After accusing Nissan of emissions fraud, the South Korean government turned its attention to Volkswagen.
Following a hearing held in May, South Korea’s government ordered Nissan Korea Co. to recall 814 Qashqais sold in the country, banning its sales for fabricating emission results. According to the ministry, the investigation revealed that the model’s exhaust reduction system controller switches off under regular driving temperatures when it reaches 35 degrees Celsius. Although Nissan said that the stoppage was implemented to protect engines from overheating, the Korean government said that 35 C is within normal range of temperatures.
Now, according to a Seoul prosecutor’s office, Volkswagen AG’s South Korean unit allegedly manipulated emission and noise-level tests for more than two dozen models, in order to secure approval to import them in the country.
The official, who asked not to be identified, stated that Volkswagen fabricated 37 reports to South Korea’s Nationa Institute of Environmental Research for 26 models, including the Golf and the Audi RS7, according to Bloomberg. A Volkswagen spokesperson said the company will respond the prosecutors’ investigation, without offering any further details.
Volkswagen is still dealing with the aftermath of tis notorious “Dieselgate” scandal, started in September 2015, when Volkswagen admitted that it used the so called “defeat devices” so that its diesel powered cars would emit fewer pollutants during emission tests.
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