Engineering news
Mitsubishi has admitted falsifying fuel economy data for more than 600,000 vehicles sold in Japan, making it the latest manufacturer to hold its hands up to manipulating such tests.
The company has released a statement explaining that its staff 'conducted testing improperly to present better fuel consumption rates than the actual rates’, which has resulted in it giving false fuel consumption figures to Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastucture, Transport and Tourism.
The company says that the improper testing relates to two of its own models: the eK Wagon and eK Space, as well as two models that it built and supplied to Nissan: the Dayz and Dayz Roox. Mitsubishi sold 157,000 of its own cars and Nissan 468,000, meaning that a total of 625,000 cars in total are included in the scandal.
Mitsubishi was responsible for obtaining the relevant test certification for the vehicles, and conducting fuel consumption testing. However, the company said it tested the vehicles using tire and air resistance that yielded better fuel economy than the actual rates.
During development for the next generation of mini-car products, Mitsubishi has admitted that Nissan examined the fuel consumption rates of the applicable cars for its reference and found deviations in the figures. Nissan then requested Mitsubishi to review the running resistance – rolling resistance of tyres and air resistance while moving – values set by Mitsubishi during testing.
In the statement, Mitsubishi said: “We found that with respect to the fuel consumption testing data submitted to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Mitsubishi Motor Company (MMC) conducted testing improperly to present better fuel consumption rates than the actual rates; and that the testing method was also different from the one required by Japanese law. We express deep apologies to all of our customers and stakeholders for this issue.
"In the course of our internal investigation upon this request, we learned of the improper conduct that we used the running resistance value for testing which provided more advantageous fuel consumption rates than the actual rates. MMC will sincerely respond to our customers who own and use the applicable cars."
Mitsubishi has confirmed it has ceased production and sale of the four models and is currently in discussions with Nissan over compensation.