The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) has recently imposed a 2 billion won fine on Audi Volkswagen Korea, which was found to have violated safety standards, the No Cut News reported on Sept. 23.
Last month, the Ministry of Environment also issued a criminal complaint against Audi Volkswagen as well as revocation of the certification and penalty, saying that the new method of manipulating emissions turned out to be true.
On Sept. 23, the MOLIT said it imposed a fine of 1.96 billion won on Audi Volkswagen Korea for selling cars that are not compatible with car safety standards.
The fine covers 50,657 vehicles imported and sold from Audi Volkswagen Korea. Recalls of vehicles in violation are also under way.
The MOLIT last month carried out the procedure to impose a fine on Audi Volkswagen Korea, and Audi Volkswagen Korea also paid in full the same month without filing an objection.
"Currently, the recall is in progress," a ministry official said. "We have also imposed fines on the company for violating safety standards."
"It's not a safety threat or a major accident while driving," a Volkswagen official told No Cut News. "We've sent individual letters to customers through the headquarters and the center and will continue to recall them."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment said on Aug. 20 that seven Audi Volkswagen vehicles were found to have manipulated emissions by manipulating the number of components. "Unlike previous emission control methods, Audi manipulated performance of vehicles with new methods that reduce amount of injection of 'AdBlue' and left nitrogen oxide emission unattended," said the Ministry of Environment.
According to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association, Volkswagen's sales fell 67.7 percent in August from last year, while Audi's August sales also fell 90.2 percent compared to last year.
Even if its accumulated sales in the first eight months of this year were compared to last year's cumulative sales, Volkswagen and Audi fell 66.7 percent and 67.6 percent, respectively.
