After the Munich public prosecutor’s office searched BMW’s premises at the group’s headquarters and in Steyr in Upper Austria on Wednesday, BMW in Steyr declined to comment further on the cause on Thursday. It’s an ongoing investigation. The background to the case is technical problems with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooling system, which are believed to have led to dozens of car fires in South Korea in 2018.
There were also recalls in Europe related to the EGR problems: escaping glycol from the cooler in combination with soot deposits and the usually high temperatures in the EGR module can lead to glowing particles. In very rare cases, melting occurs in the intake manifold, which in extreme cases can cause a fire, BMW explained at the time. As a precaution, 1.6 million vehicles were ordered in workshops worldwide.
Korea investigations closed
The Seoul prosecutor’s office recently filed a complaint against BMW Korea and employees there on suspicion of concealing technical defects and starting the recall too late, a BMW spokesperson in Munich said. The investigations by the Korean authorities against BMW AG were closed in May.
The Public Prosecution Service for Affairs and Corruption confirmed on Wednesday evening in the ORF television news program “ZIB 2” that they carried out the search on behalf of the Munich public prosecutor’s office. This, in turn, had become active through a request for mutual assistance from the South Korean authorities in 2020.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
