They include Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors, GM Korea, Renault Samsung Motors Co., Ssangyong Motor, BMW, Mercedes-Benz Korea, Porsche, Jaguar Land Rover Korea, Volvo, Peugeot, FCA Korea, Ford, FMK and Nissan. It also fined the German carmaker a total of 14.1 billion won (US$12.3 million). The officials said the 15 models confirmed with the so-called “defeat devices” were Euro-5 models with an older “E-A-one-eight-nine” engine.
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The California Air Resources Board said it had told Volkswagen Group of America to recall all VW, Audi and Porsche vehicles equipped with 3.0-litre diesel engines in the model years 2009-2015 that were sold in California.
Audi is now investigating whether employees in technical development and other departments deliberately manipulated emission-control devices and has suspended two engineers, Stadler said in an interview with the Donaukurier regional newspaper, without giving any further details.
The ministry said it will continue to run additional tests on models equipped with the EA288 engine. Emissions discharged by the Tiguan were 1.38 grams per kilometer, which exceeded the standard of 0.044 grams per kilometer by 31 times. The vehicles to be recalled contain the diesel engines which produce emissions greater than allowed, according to Reuters. It was programmed not to do that during lab tests.
Modifying Volkswagen diesel cars sold in the United States will be more complicated because of stricter rules on emissions of nitrogen oxides, pollutants harmful to the environment and human health.
South Korea has become the first country to have fined Volkswagen.
The engine also breached emissions rules when the auto was not under the usual test conditions, as during sudden acceleration, when the air conditioner was turned on and when the vehicle was on the road, the ministry said. Furthermore, bringing the cars into compliance with emission regulations may bring compromises in fuel economy, performance, and/or reliability, as well as affect negatively the resale value.
Bumper stickers identifying recalled and readjusted cars will be made obligatory to ensure consumers comply with the recall as early as possible, the ministry said.
The South Korean government also announced 25 other automakers are also being tested.
There was no immediate comment by the VW group on the CARB order.
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Volkswagen has been given until December 17 to decide whether it will pay any compensation. Volkswagen has announced a solution to the EA189 engines using the emission rigging software in Europe.
