Another group of Volkswagen vehicle owners in South Korea has sued the German carmaker for deceiving them about emission tests following the first case filed last week, their legal representative said Tuesday.
They accused the carmaker and dealers of deceiving its customers and demanded that the contracts they made to buy the cars in question be annulled.
They sought 30 million won ($25,000) each in damages in case the contracts are not canceled.
A total of 38 people filed the lawsuit against Volkswagen Group, Audi Volkswagen Korea and local dealers with the Seoul Central District Court, said lawyer Jason Ha, who is representing the plaintiffs.
Nearly 500 people sent documents to proceed with a legal action against the carmaker since the first lawsuit was filed, he said.
"The number of plaintiffs could soon reach a hundred. We will file a suit every week."
In mid-September, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said that Volkswagen used software that activates emission controls only when the car is going through official testing to fake test results and pass strict emission standards.
The world's No. 1 carmaker admitted to the accusation and decided to recall about 500,000 vehicles in the U.S. alone. It also admitted that more than 10 million cars sold globally might be equipped with the "defeat device."
Authorities here launched their own investigation and tests on emissions and fuel efficiency of the car models in question.
Subject to investigation are Volkswagen's Golf, Jetta and Beetle and the Audi A3, which were allowed to be imported after meeting Euro 6 standards.
Volkswagen is expected to recall about 120,000 vehicles sold in South Korea in connection with the deepening diesel emissions scandal.
"A recall does not erase the illegality it has committed," Ha said. "We are also taking into consideration the depreciation of the used cars in the market as the brand image has been severely damaged."
The next lawsuit will be lodged on Oct. 13. (Yonhap)
