S Korea suspends sales of most Volkswagen models

South Korea on Tuesday suspended sales of most Volkswagen models in a fresh blow to the German automaker as it struggles to overcome the global repercussions of its emissions-test cheating scandal and rebuild its tattered image.

The government revoked certification for 80 model variants of Volkswagen, Audi and Bentley vehicles, and fined Volkswagen 17.8 billion won ($16.06 million) for allegedly forging documents on emissions or noise-level tests.

The move could slam the brakes on sales for Europe's biggest automaker in the Asian market, where its local unit had more than tripled revenue to 2.82 trillion won over the past five years before becoming mired in the emissions scandal.

Volkswagen described the ruling as "most severe" and said it would consider a legal challenge.

In all, 209,000 Volkswagen vehicles have been de-certified in South Korea, mainly over emissions-related problems, since November - or 68 per cent of the vehicles the automaker had sold in the country since 2007, the environment ministry said.

While South Korea is a relatively small market for Volkswagen, it is a major market for its luxury marques Audi and Bentley and one of the fastest-growing markets for all brands.

It could take more than three months for the affected brands to be back on showroom floors, officials said.

"It usually takes three months for vehicle certification, but this may take longer for Volkswagen, as we will take thorough steps," environment ministry director Hong Dong-gon told reporters.

Any delay in recalls previously ordered over emissions test manipulation could be met with an order for Volkswagen to exchange those vehicles for other models, Hong added.

In a letter to customers posted on its South Korean homepage, Volkswagen said it would consider requesting an "injunction of execution".

THE BUMPY RIDE

• The suspension is expected to last more than 3 months
• S Korea government fined Volkswagen $16.06mn for allegedly forging documents on emissions or noise-level tests
• 209,000 Volkswagen vehicles have been de-certified in South Korea
• Volkswagen’s local unit in Asian market had more than tripled its revenue to 2.82 trn Won in last five years
• The automaker’s S Korean unit reported $2.5 bn revenue last year
• The firm reported a 12 per cent drop in quarterly profit at its main passenger car division

It also could take legal action against the government's decision "if this will help recover our company's business reputation and benefit our consumers, dealers and other partners," it added.

Volkswagen voluntarily halted sales of most of its models in South Korea from July 25, ahead of the government's decision.

The company reported a 12 per cent drop in quarterly profit at its main passenger car division last week, showing the challenges it still faces since admitting in September to using software to falsify pollution tests on some diesel cars.

In addition to billions of dollars in costs related to the scandal, it is also tangled in legal action in the United States, Germany, South Korea and elsewhere.

South Korea has taken a particularly tough line, with prosecutors raiding Volkswagen's Seoul offices and arresting an executive in June.