[THE INVESTOR] The Ministry of Environment on Aug. 2 suspended sales of 80 vehicle models sold by Audi Volkswagen Korea and fined it 17.8 billion won (US$16.01 million) for manipulating documents with an intention to cheat on the government’s emissions or noise level tests. 

The ministry said it has revoked certification -- which ultimately leads to a sales ban -- on 83,000 units of Volkswagen, Audi and Bentley vehicles that were sold here between 2009 to July 25. The affected models include some of the best-selling models such as VW’s Golf, Jetta and Audi’s A6. 

With the latest measure, the total number of VW vehicles that were decertified in South Korea came to 209,000 units, some 68 percent of more than 300,000 cars that the German automaker sold here since 2007. In November last year, the government canceled certification of 126,000 VW vehicles that circumvented emission control system. 

The ministry separately slapped a fine of 17.8 billion won on VW Korea for 47 models that fabricated the emission tests, violating the Clean Air Conservation Act.

The authorities said the latest measure is directed at the company and car owners of the affected units will face no restriction on selling their vehicles.
The government’s punitive measure came after Korean prosecutors opened an inquiry in January into the carmaker’s emission scandal that came to light in 2015 globally. After the investigation, the authorities discovered that VW had indeed manipulated the emission control system and fabricated documents. 

Amid growing pressure, VW Korea voluntarily stopped selling the affected models here on July 25, ahead of the government’s decision.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)