A man from South Korea wrecked a Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG with a golf club after the company rejected his demands for exchange or refund.
In March, Je-Ha Yu bought the vehicle from Shin Sung Motors, a Mercedes-Benz dealer in the city of Gwangju, South Korea. The car cost around $500,000.
Yu claims that the car had failed him several times. In one incident, the car's engine died down when he was on an overpass, with his pregnant wife and 5-year-old son in the car.
Out of his frustration, in front of the Mercedes-Benz outlet, Yu calmly took a golf club and aimed for the windows, doors, and roof of the black luxury car. Yu showed no attempt to hurt anyone.
According to local police, the Mercedes-Benz dealership raised a complaint against the mad motorist the following day for obstruction of business transactions, but the charge was later dropped. Both parties are now settling things amicably.
The company had entertained Yu in the past, with the personnel rendering repair services to the car.
Without a request from either side, the local government may conduct an independent investigation. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport wanted a check on the car to find out if there were any technical defects with the model.
"Without the submission of a petition from a customer, we have the authority to check a car if we think there is a technical problem, which is guaranteed by the law to protect consumers," said Kim Yong-seok, spokesperson for the motor vehicles management division.
The ministry also said that the authorities may come up with a regulation that requires automakers to return a customer's money or offer a replacement when a major defect is found in a vehicle.
The carmaker has initiated its own investigation.
