VW Korea head apologises, questioned on emission fraud

Seoul: The head of Volkswagen’s South Korean unit apologised Thursday as he presented himself to state prosecutors for questioning over the German carmaker’s emissions fraud scandal. Johannes Thammer, CEO of Volkswagen Korea, was summoned by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office a week after South Korea banned the sale of 80 Volkswagen AG models. Thammer, who has been in his current post since December 2012, is expected to be questioned over allegations that Volkswagen Korea fabricated test results on engine noise levels, fuel efficiency and emissions.

The world’s second-largest automaker faces legal action in several countries, after it admitted in September last year to faking US emissions tests on some of its diesel-engined vehicles.