Mercedes-Benz to be heavily fined for environmental pollution

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has demanded that Mercedes, the car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, pay a serious fine. The amount in question is $16.87 million. The charges are for providing falsified information on gas emissions from their diesel cars.

The South Korean antitrust regulator found violations in Mercedes’ software. The software was underreporting emissions on its diesel cars. Thus, the vehicles did not meet the legally permitted emission levels.

In addition to the fine, the KFTC also ordered Mercedes to fix the devices and install qualified software.

In 2021, the KFTC fined a number of other automakers. Audi-Volkswagen Korea, Nissan Motor, Stellantis Korea and Porsche AG were on the list for fines or remedial orders for similar emissions violations.