South Korea halts sale of Volkswagen vehicles after emissions scandal

After the emission scandal, South Korea has taken the big step of halting the sale of 80 Volkswagen models whilst investigations continue in to the emission scandal that Volkswagen is at the heart of.

Most of the models that had been showcased for sale were recently removed. It is alleged that the affected vehicles had falsified documents for the emissions and the sound-level tests.

The environment minister made a statement saying:

“As of August the 2nd, we have revoked the certification of 83,000 vehicles of 80 models”.

The Emissions scandal

Between 2009 and 2015, Volkswagen installed ‘defeat devices‘ which was software that cheated emissions testing, making the cars appear better for the environment than they were. The software allowed the cars to pass the emissions test by knowing when to switch the emission control software on. When the car was not being tested, the software switched off, and the cars emitted nitrogen oxide up to 40 times the legal limit.

Only certain models were fitted with the defeat device, but it is thought around 11 million cars had the device installed over the six year period.

This has affected counties all over the world with different nations taking different steps. The move here for South Korea is a fairly major one when you compare it to the likes of the UK, where the government has done hardly anything!

Only getting worse

Things are only getting worse for Volkswagen – one of the largest automakers in the world – as they face growing legal actions in several different countries since (sort of, in some ways) confirming the existence of the so-called ‘defeat devices.’

In July, the Volkswagen South Korean executive was arrested by prosecutors in South Korea as part of their own investigation, and in 2015, Volkswagen Korea was ordered to recall more than 125,000 diesel powered cars that had been sold in South Korea by Seoul.

Volkswagen Korea was then fined 14.1 won (almost £10m in sterling).

South Korea has predominantly been dominated by Hyundai and Kia, but foreign car makers have been expanding their presence within the South Korean market. Foreign car makers sales in South Korea accounts for 15% compared to only 12% in 2012.

Have you been affected?

If you have been affected by the Volkswagen scandal you could be entitled to compensation.

We have already initiated our group action against Volkswagen and can help you claim compensation if you have been affected.

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