German authorities have raided Hyundai and Kia premises over suspected 210,000 vehicles

German authorities have raided Hyundai and Kia motor premises owing to suspicions that they put over 210,000 diesel vehicles with suspected illegal defeat devices.

Around 140 prosecutors and investigators in Frankfurt and Luxembourg were mobilized to raid eight premises of the South Korean automakers in the two countries earlier in the day, the Frankfurt prosecutors’ office in Germany said on June 28.

They said that Hyundai and Kia are facing charges accusing them of causing air pollution with emissions-cheating devices. BorgWarner, the owner of the company that allegedly provided the device for the diesel engines in the Hyundai and Kia cars, is also being investigated.

Until 2020, about 210,000 diesel Hyundai and Kia vehicles equipped with the illegal software had reportedly been circulated.

The prosecution said that the device is suspected of significantly reducing or turning off emission reductions when the cars are driven.

A spokesperson for Hyundai confirmed the raids and said the company was working with the authorities.

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