Local Porsche dealers sue importer over lost sales

Korean Porsche dealers filed a compensation suit against the importer of the luxury cars for monetary losses incurred over suspended sales due to emissions test rigging, a local law firm said Friday.

Forty-seven salesmen hired by Stuttgart Sports Cars Ltd (SSCL), an authorized dealer of Porsche to Korea, are seeking compensation worth 5 million won ($4,465) per person for suspended sales starting in December 2016. This is the first legal action taken by local salesmen over the fallout from emissions test rigging.

Porsche Korea suspended sales of several models in late 2016 after their certifications were canceled for falsified documents on their emissions levels. Porsche Korea was fined 3.6 billion won.

The diesel version of the company’s popular Cayenne SUV was taken off the market in August last year due to the cancellation of its certification and recall in Germany.

“We have demanded 5 million won per person in compensation from Porsche Korea and SSCL,” said Jason Ha, the attorney from Barun Law representing the salesmen. “SSCL failed to take responsibility from Porsche Korea for the business losses.”

YONHAP