Korean consumers planning a class-action suit against Nissan Korea will also target Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault-Nissan, naming him as one of the defendants, a local law firm handling the case said Thursday.

Barun Law has about 30 Korean owners of Qashqai, an SUV made by Nissan, who have expressed intent to file the lawsuit against Gosn and Takehiko Kikuchi, the head of Nissan Korea, according to the law firm and industry sources. The filing is expected next week at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office to demand compensation, they said.


Nissan, the Japanese-side partner of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, is accused of faking emission results for the SUV. Korea's environment ministry said Monday it will levy 330 million won ($280,000) in fines on Nissan Korea and stop sales of the model. The Japanese automaker had sold 817 Qashqai SUV in Korea from last November to May 11. 

Nissan Korea expressed regret for the controversy but denied doctoring test results.

Jason Ha, an attorney with Barun Law, said the plaintiffs decided to name Gosn in their lawsuit "because the responsibility lies not just with Nissan Korea, which sold the vehicles but also with the CEO of Renault-Nissan headquarters."

Gosn is already mired in controversy from the company's takeover of Japanese automaker Mitsubishi, which recently admitted to lying about fuel economy. 

Korean owners of Volkswagen cars have also been engaged in a lawsuit since September against the German automaker's headquarters, as well as its Korean unit and dealers, for compensation from false emissions results. (Yonhap)