Enlarge image
Hyundai logo: suspected illegal defeat devices at the group and the subsidiary
Photo: Uli Deck / dpa
Offices of car manufacturer Hyundai and its subsidiary Kia have been searched on suspicion of improper manipulation of diesel vehicles.
Around 140 investigators had raided eight buildings in Germany and Luxembourg, the responsible public prosecutor's office in Frankfurt announced on Tuesday.
To secure evidence, the Frankfurt public prosecutor's office had the premises of the two companies in the Rhine-Main area and the supplier BorgWarner searched.
Around 180 investigators were involved.
The action was coordinated by the EU authority Eurojust.
A spokesman for Hyundai's European headquarters in Offenbach only said on Tuesday that the investigation was fully supported.
It is about more than 210,000 diesel vehicles that will be registered by 2020.
However, it is unclear in which country the affected vehicles were registered.
According to the investigators, the engine control is said to have ensured that the exhaust gas cleaning was switched off or restricted in many everyday situations.
The corresponding emission standards were not met and the customers were deceived.
First, the Volkswagen Group had admitted such defeat devices.
Numerous other manufacturers and suppliers have already been investigated for similar matters.
czl / dpa / reuters