Noncompliance Investigation
The cat is out of the bag. The Volkwagen Group was ordered to recall about 500,000 vehicles after its failure to satisfy the gas emissions standards in the U.S. This is expected to stir up a big wave in Korea, too. The Volkwagen Group had gas emissions reduction devices work normally when Volkwagen and Audi cars were tested and had them turn off when running on roads, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explained.
According to the U.S. environmental watchdog, the volume of gas emissions from Volkswagen cars running on roads were up to 40 times as many as that of Volkswagen cars at test centers. The EPA announcement prompted the Korean government to review the news and decided to look into Volkswagen and Audi vehicles.
“We judge that it is highly likely that the Volkwagen Group used similar schemes in countries in addition to the U.S.,” said a spokesperson for the Korean Ministry of Environment. “We are planning to test gas emissions from the Volkswagen models in question in Korea, too.”
Recalled cars in the U.S. totaled 483,000 units. They are the Golf, Jetta, and Beetle models produced from 2009 to 2015. The Passat models in question are those produced in 2014 and 2015. In the case of Audi A3 vehicles, 2009 to 2015 models are subject to the recall.
“Korea’s diesel vehicle regulations are the same as those in Europe. Diesels cars imported to Korea are different from those imported to the U.S.,” a spokesperson for Volkswagen Korea said. “The U.S. recall is not related to Volkswagen cars in Korea.”
The Volkswagen Group could be fined up to US$18 billion in addition to direct damage from the recall if the allegations prove true in the U.S. Furthermore, consumers can take the company to court as well.