Prosecutors Conduct Additional Search of Benz Korea for 'Emissions Manipulation Suspicion' After Two Weeks

After Last Month's First Search, Additional Materials Deemed Necessary

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The prosecution investigating Mercedes-Benz's alleged emission manipulation has conducted another raid on the Mercedes-Benz Korea headquarters after about two weeks.

According to the legal community on the 15th, the Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office searched the Mercedes-Benz Korea headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. After conducting a raid on the Mercedes-Benz Korea headquarters on the 27th and 28th of last month, they deemed it necessary to secure additional materials and proceeded with another search.

Earlier, the Ministry of Environment confirmed that Mercedes-Benz had installed emission manipulation programs in 12 diesel vehicle models, totaling 37,154 units sold domestically between 2012 and 2018, and reported the case to the prosecution. It was investigated that Mercedes-Benz used illegal programs in these models to reduce the amount of urea solution used in the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system or to stop the operation of the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) device, thereby manipulating emissions. When the SCR urea solution usage decreases or the EGR operation stops, nitrogen oxides, which are a cause of fine dust, are excessively emitted.

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