Import Sales in S. Korea Drop 13%

Sales of imported new cars in South Korea shrank to 15,900 units in August from 18,200 in the same month last year, according to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Assn. The slump is blamed in part on the country’s ban on dozens of Audi and Volkswagen models fined for fabricating emission test results.

The group reports that Audi and VW sales plummeted 83% and 98%, respectively, last month after the government’s environmental ministry fined VW Group 17.8 billion won ($16 million) for cheating on certification tests. The ministry also said it is broadening its investigation to cover all 23 foreign carmakers in the country.

KAIDA reports that BMW sales in August fell 16% to 3,000 cars. The trade association says deliveries of Mercedes-Benz vehicles jumped 32% to 4,800 units.

Import sales in Korea through the first nine months of 2016 declined 7% to 148,400 units, according to the group.