Sokor Accuses Nissan, Porsche Of Filing False Emission Totals

South Korea's anti-trust watchdog said it would require Nissan and Porsche to correct inaccurate gas emission totals for their diesel vehicles, Ahn Jae-sung and Kim Tae-gyu reported for United Press International (UPI).

Photo Insert: Nissan Altima launch, South Korea

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said Sunday that Nissan Motor and Porsche had submitted inaccurate information about their vehicles' gas emission totals to South Korean customers. The watchdog also opted to levy a $150,000 fine on Nissan.

The Korea FTC said it believes that the two companies employed software programs that make an exhaust gas recirculation valve work only during the tests so that emissions would not rise above the regulatory ceiling.

The EGR valve is designed to redirect some exhaust gases from the engine back into the air so as to diminish exhaust emissions. But the device has a downside: Decreased operation and fuel capacity for the vehicle.

The software at issue allegedly blocked the EGR valve from working properly on the road, causing the diesel cars to fail to meet South Korean standards in real-world driving situations. For example, Nissan vehicles emitted up to 10 times more nitrogen oxides, according to the FTC.

This is not the first time that foreign brands have been punished for submitting false gas emission numbers, as Audi-Volkswagen Korea and Stellantis were fined in September. The regulator is also investigating Mercedes-Benz Korea.

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