SEOUL (Xinhua) — Ten automakers in South Korea were fined for selling cars with subpar safety standard, the transport ministry said Wednesday.
A total of KRW10.26 billion (USD7.7 million) in fines was imposed on the country’s biggest carmaker Hyundai Motor and nine foreign companies, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
The foreign carmakers include Volkswagen Group Korea, Mercedes-Benz Korea, Ford Sales and Service Korea, Porsche Korea, GM Korea, BMW Korea, Honda Korea, Toyota Motor Korea, and Nissan Korea.
The fines were based on corrective measures against inappropriate safety standard between January and June 2023.
Volkswagen Group Korea was subject to the biggest fine of KRW3.5 billion (USD2.6 million), followed by Mercedes-Benz Korea with KRW2.5 billion (USD1.9 million).
A separate fine of KRW39 million (USD29,140) was levied on five carmakers, including Stellantis Korea, Mercedes-Benz Korea, Volkswagen Group Korea, Ford Sales and Service Korea and Kia Corp., for selling vehicles without repairing defective parts.
Three companies, including Porsche Korea, Stellantis Korea and Kia Corp., were each subject to a fine of KRW59 million (USD44,080) for not informing buyers of the fixed faulty parts.
