South Korea to ban sales, nullify certifications of Volkswagen automobiles

South Korean government on Monday stated it will prohibit sales and revoke certifications of dozens of Volkswagen models that are believed to have passed the regional authentication procedure with doctored reports.

The Ministry of Environment stated it has gotten an official request for cooperation from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office having a list of more than 70 designs of the German carmaker that are suspected of acquiring approval from the local authorities with faked reports on sound level, fuel performance and emissions results.

Seoul prosecutors have been broadening their investigation into the regional device of Volkswagen over its alleged abnormalities that came to light following in 2015’s emissions scandal.

The ministry stated when the irregularities are shown to be real, it will put a sales restriction on automobiles that have actually not been sold yet and purchase a recall for those that have been offered, together with fines.

Market watchers said the number of automobiles to receive the management steps might increase to some 100,000 to 150,000, or some 40 to 60 percent of about 250,000 Volkswagen automobiles that have been sold here since the year of 2007.

“We are evaluating the probe result delivered from the prosecution to figure out which designs will be put under the management steps,” a ministry authorities stated, asking not to be named. “After examining legal issues, we will formally alert Volkswagen of the outcomes.”

The relocation came a few days after a former managing director of Volkswagen Audi Korea was summoned by prosecutors as a suspect over his supposed involvement in the automaker’s cheating.