Korean Government Fines Nissan For Cheating Emission Test

After Volkswagen and Mitsubishi, it is now Nissan that is the next carmaker to get embroiled in an emission scandal. The South Korean government on Monday said that it will fine the carmaker for allegedly manipulating emissions data on its popular SUV Qashqai.

Seoul said it would order a recall of hundreds of Qashqai model SUVs after tests revealed an emission defeat system that made the vehicle appear less polluting than it really was. 

After the unearthing of the VW emission scandal last year, the Korean environment ministry initiated an investigation into 20 diesel-powered cars in December 2015. As a result, Nissan has been slapped a fine of 330 million won (Rs 18.69 crore).

“Our investigation... concluded that Nissan illegally manipulated emission data,” the ministry said in a statement. A ministry official handling transport-related regulations, added, “A group of auto industry experts we consulted also agreed that this is a clear manipulation of emission data.”

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The glitch in question is the emission reduction device that switches off when the car temperature reached 35 degrees Celsius to stop the vehicle from overheating. Ideally, other cars wait until 50 degrees for the same to happen.

In response, Nissan has insisted that it does not manipulate data related to our vehicles. “Nissan has not and does not employ illegal defeat or cheat devices in any of the cars that we make,” it said in a statement.

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In the same vein though, Nissan also clarified that it was “committed to upholding the law” and was “continuing to work with the Korean authorities.”

The Japanese manufacturer was given 10 days to present its stand on the emission issue before Seoul officially carries out punitive measures, the ministry stated.