German prosecutors searched the premises of the South Korean car companies Hyundai and Kia, as well as the American supplier of car components BorgWarner, DPA reported. The search is in connection with suspicions of the installation of mechanisms for concealment of the emitted harmful emissions from diesel vehicles manufactured by the three companies.
About 180 prosecutors in Frankfurt searched premises in the area around the city. Eight premises were searched in Germany and Luxembourg, and the operation was coordinated by the European Agency for Cooperation in Criminal Justice (Eurojust).
A Hyundai spokesman said the company was fully cooperating with the German prosecutor’s office.
The investigation focused on more than 210,000 diesel vehiclesregistered until 2020. According to the authorities, installed engine components have switched off or restricted the exhaust gas purification mechanisms under normal driving conditions, as a result of which environmental standards have not been complied with.
Also known as “Dieselgate” scandal with the harmful emissions emitted by diesel vehicles in quantities that the norms do not allow, first erupted in the United States in September 2015. Then the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched an investigation against Volkswagen, reminds DPA.
Soon after, other companies were involved in the scandal, which led to huge fines imposed on car companies.
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