South Korea announced that it's banning some 20,000 BMW vehicles on Tuesday as public fear rises in the country over reported cases of engine fires.
According to Fox News, a series of 27 engines in BMW vehicles went up in flames between the periods of January and July this year. However, no deaths or injuries connected to any of the incidents have been reported.
BMW's Korean corporate arm said it may have already found the root cause of the problem. This prompted the firm to offer a statement of apology to the public last week.
As revealed by the German automaker, the cause of the engine fires has something to do with the car's defective exhaust gas recirculation module. This is the part of the vehicle's circulation system responsible for bringing back some of the exhaust fumes back into the engine.
In a press conference held in Seoul this month, BMW Korea Chairman Kim Hyo-Joon said that in light of the recent mishaps, the company has decided to open up its operations to public scrutiny, a report said.
Hyo-Joon also announced BMW's move to send in 10 international consultants to make further investigation on the matter as well as offer solutions for the affected BMW owners.
Meanwhile, BMW also told the press that it will be issuing an order of recall to more than a hundred thousand diesel-powered vehicles beginning next week. This may include the more-recently released BMW 520d, which is one of the most saleable BMW units in South Korea.
In a press briefing, Kim Hyun-mee, SoKor's Transport Minister, calls for the public's full cooperation on the matter. This is despite the inconvenience that the recent policy may bring.
Moreover, the ministry issued order through local authorities banning drivers from using BMWs that hasn't been yet subjected for engine inspections.
The office did clarify that BMW owners may still be able to take their units to the road only for the purpose of the safety check, a related report from CNN indicated.
More than ever, it is the duty of the government to ensure the safety of its citizens. Which is why, according to the news outlet, those drivers who violated the ban will be arrested by the police.
The South Korean government, meanwhile, announced that they are launching their own probe into the engine defects.
South Korea is a relatively small market for cars but it sees major sales especially for luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes Benz.
