Volkswagen Korea, the South Korean sales unit of German carmaker Volkswagen AG that is seeking to reignite stalled sales in Korea after a year-long sale ban, launched an official approved second-hand car scheme in the country.

Volkswagen Korea said on Wednesday that it plans to sell officially imported Volkswagen cars that have been used for no longer than five years with a mileage of 100,000 kilometers or less. It will guarantee the quality of its used cars with a quality certification that will be issued to a car that passes 88 criteria, it said. Customers will be also offered the company’s official financial services that will allow them to choose among various financial options such as monthly payment or lease schemes.

The company’s decision to launch its official approved used car program in Korea comes at a time when the company is gearing up for resumption of its car sale after it has seen plunge in its sales and has lost a majority of its dealers in the country following the Korean government’s sale ban on its cars a year ago. It had completely suspended its vehicle sale since the country revoked the certification of 80 models in 32 variants of Audi AG and Volkswagen under German auto mogul Volkswagen Group in August last year upon finding that the car makers had fabricated emissions reports to obtain permission to sell vehicles in Korea.

The German auto brand is actively seeking various ways to regain the ground in the Korean market after its sister brand Audi earned new licenses for its two sports utility vehicles from the Korean Ministry of Environment earlier last month.

The company decided to introduce its own certified pre-owned car program, dubbed Volkswagen Approved, to build an integrated system that can further boost customer satisfaction, managing director of Volkswagen Korea Stefan Krapp said on Wednesday. A brand certified pre-owned car program is widely adopted by foreign car brands to offer a second-hand car that comes with most benefits of a new car but at a lower price with its guarantee.

Volkswagen Korea plans to expand its approved used car scheme by combining promotional events such as residual value guarantees for new car purchase and disposal service of an existing vehicle. Consumers will gain more information about the Volkswagen Approved second-hand cars at SK Encar’s online website. The official website for the information will also be available starting from next year.

By Park Chang-young

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]