By Kim Yoo-chul
The prosecution is investigating Volkswagen (VW) to check whether the carmaker cheated on emissions tests for new models with stricter Euro 6 carbon standards.
The Seoul Central District Prosecution said Sunday it had asked a government-funded laboratory to test emissions from three models of the Audi Volkswagen Group.
“This is a formal investigation into allegations that the latest Volkswagen models were designed to cheat on emissions,” a prosecutor said.
The models are the Audi A1, A3 and VW’s Golf.
All have 1.6-liter diesel engines or the new EA288 engine. The models previously met the stricter Euro 6 carbon emission standards.
“The three models have been on sale here,” the official said. “We need to investigate whether the models have cheated on emission tests. We may issue recall orders depending on the result of the investigation.”
VW admitted that the automotive group cheated on emission tests of older models with Euro 5 standards. The company has denied allegations that the new models contain defective devices.
Models meeting stricter Euro 6 carbon standards should emit 30 percent to 50 percent fewer emissions than Euro 5 engines.
The government ordered Volkswagen to recall some models, including the Tiguan, produced between 2009 and 2015 and using EA 189 engines, after the government found the German automaker had cheated on emissions.
“According to the results of the investigation, VW may face additional criminal and civil lawsuits because the target models are relatively new,” said a local automotive industry official.
Prosecutors confiscated several VW vehicles with four brands ― Golf, Jetta, Beetle and Audi A3 ― from its warehouse in Pyeongtaek.
Last month, prosecutors raided the homes of VW Korea executives and offices in Gangnam, and banned several VW executives from traveling overseas.
Prosecutors have teamed up with the Ministry of Environment for the investigation. The ministry is also expected to investigate the automaker for possible involvement in cheating on emissions from vehicles passed as meeting Euro 6 standards.