South Korea Fines BMW $10 Million Over Several Engine Fires

South Korea Fines BMW $10 Million Over Several Engine Fires
South Korean Transport Ministry officials hold a press conference as damaged gears of a BMW which engine had caught fire are displayed at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 24, 2018. Ahn Young-joon/AP
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SEOUL, South Korea—South Korea said Monday it will fine BMW 11.2 billion won ($9.9 million) and file a criminal complaint against the company with state prosecutors over an allegedly botched response to dozens of engine fires reported in the country.

South Korea’s Transport Ministry its investigation panel after a five-month review concluded that the German automaker deliberately tried to cover up technical problems and moved too slowly to recall vehicles after around 40 of its cars caught fire earlier this year. The ministry found the fires to be caused by faulty valves in the vehicles’ exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) coolers.