For Alleged Exhaust Gas Manipulation
Frankfurt's prosecution investigators have searched eight Hyundai Motor and Kia offices in Germany and Luxembourg. According to the prosecution, the two companies conducted exhaust gas manipulation with their diesel cars sold until 2020.
“Exhaust manipulators were attached to the 210,000 or so cars in question, which range from 1.1 liters to 2.2 liters,” it said, adding, “The engine control software from Bosch and Delphi caused the exhaust gas purifiers to slow down or halt often, leading to excessive nitric oxide emissions.”
The prosecution has expanded its investigations in the industry since the Volkswagen emissions scandal in 2015. At that time, it was uncovered that the automaker used dual software in engine controllers in order to easily pass exhaust tests by emitting less nitrogen oxide during the tests.
On June 29, after the news about the search, the stock prices of Hyundai Motor Company and Kia fell 5.65 percent and 6.11 percent, respectively.