S Korea to slap Volkswagen with record fine

SEOUL: South Korea said it will file criminal complaints against five former and current executives at Volkswagen AG’s South Korean unit and fine the company a record 37.3 billion won ($31.87 million) for false advertising on vehicle emissions.

The fine, a record for false advertising in the Asian country, indicates South Korean authorities are in no mood to soften their tough line on the German carmaker’s emissions-test cheating, having already suspended most of its sales in the country since August.

The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said on Wednesday it would ask prosecutors to investigate Volkswagen’s headquarters, its South Korean unit and five former and current executives including André Konsbruck, currently vice-president of sales for the Americas at Volkswagen unit Audi, and Audi’s Head of Sales Overseas Terence Bryce Johnsson.

It alleged Volkswagen made “false, exaggerated or deceptive” claims in the advertisements, with punishments ranging from jail terms of up to two years or fines of up to 150 million won, an FTC official told reporters.

Volkswagen advertised its cars as environmentally friendly vehicles that met pollution standards although they were equipped with devices designed to deceive government tests, the regulator said.

Audi Volkswagen Korea (AVK) said it had not been formally notified of the regulator’s decision. — Reuters