State prosecutors on Thursday summoned the local chief of German carmaker Volkswagen to question the executive over irregularities committed by the automaker in South Korea.

Johannes Thammer appeared before the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on charges of getting involved in fabrication of reports on noise level, fuel efficiency and emissions results to obtain approval from the local authorities. 

"Fist of all, I want to say that I am sorry for the situation and we will do everything, faithfully, to cooperate with the prosecutor," he told reporters before entering the prosecutors' office.

Thammer, who has been in charge of the vehicles' imports and sales since December 2012, declined to comment on whether German headquarters were involved in the process.

About a week earlier, the Ministry of Environment banned sales and revoked certifications of 80 vehicle models of the carmaker.

The ministry also slapped the German automaker with fines of 17.8 billion won ($16 million).

The number of vehicles subject to the administrative measure is 83,000, which have been sold here between 2009 and July this year.

The total number of Audi and Volkswagen vehicles, whose certifications have been canceled so far, is 209,000, some 68 percent of more than 300,000 cars that the automaker has sold here from 2007 onward.

Audi Volkswagen Korea said it would consider possible countermeasures, including taking legal action, but has not come up with any decision yet.

Industry sources speculated it would be difficult for the automaker to adopt a hard-line policy against the government when the company's business reputation and credibility is already faltering in the local market. (Yonhap)