VW may recall 120k cars in South Korea

South Korea said on Thursday that Volkswagen’s South Korean unit has informed the government that it could recall around 120,000 vehicles sold in South Korea.

The move will be in connection with a deepening diesel emissions scandal that has hit the German automaker worldwide.

Audi Volkswagen Korea, the local unit of the German carmaker, had earlier submitted detailed information about the so-called defeat device and corrective measures to be taken to South Korea’s Environment Ministry.

The corrective measures can include a recall of the vehicles equipped with the software that has been found to alter engine performance when a vehicle is being checked, which can lead to lower-than-actual harmful emission levels.

The government of South Korea has announced in a statement that it will decide by November what measures it will order the unit to do, including a recall and/or a suspension of sales, if it deems there were illegal acts.

After testing the emissions of seven Volkswagen and Audi diesel models by mid-November, the ministry will expand testing to other makers’ diesel models starting December, Reuters reported.

Volkswagen said earlier this week it would tell customers in the coming days they would need to refit up to 11 million vehicles affected by the scandal and present details to watchdog in October.

The scandal has already led to predictions of massive recalls and astronomical fines being slapped on the German carmaker in the US.