‘Only Japanese cars cheated fuel economy tests,’ says Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi has admitted that it may have falsified test data on up to 13 different models - all of them sold in Japan only.

The news confirms that no cars sold in the UK or other regions are affected by the fuel economy scandal.

Mitsubishi has also revealed that the differences between the falsified figures and the legitimate ones are so small that the manufacturer plans to continue selling the affected cars. However, it has not specified the names of all of the affected cars.

Osamu Masuko, Mitsubishi’s chief executive officer, added that the firm is still investigating the issues that led to the scandal. He added that it will submit more concrete details to Japan's transport ministry by 18 May. Masuko added that he wouldn’t stand down as a result of the crisis, saying:  “There are various ways to take a responsibility, and I believe getting the company on a stable path is one way to do it.”

Mitsubishi confirms US cars are legal

Mitsubishi had previously responded to requests from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by saying its US-spec cars conform to legislation governing fuel test procedures.

The EPA had requested the car maker re-test its vehicles following the announcement it had been cheating fuel economy tests since 1991, but Mitsubishi said in an official statement that it has found no evidence of US-market vehicles being affected. This includes all Mitsubishi models sold in the USA from 2013 to the present.

External investigation and widening crisis

After news of the fuel economy scandal broke, Mitsubishi share prices plummeted by 50%. Orders for Mitsubishi vehicles in its home Japanese market also halved in the following days.

An independent committee has already been assembled to further investigate the brand. It is made up of three external lawyers, headed by committee chair Keiichi Watanabe, a previous superintending prosecutor at Tokyo High Prosecutors Office. The two remaining committee members are Yoshiro Sakata and Genta Yoshino.

In an official statement released last month, Mitsubishi said the committee would review related documents and data, and interview all people suspected of being involved. Once the investigation is complete, the committee will be responsible for drafting up measures to prevent a recurrence.

Previously, Japanese media reported that alongside the 625,000 local cars already affected, other models involved could include the i-Miev electric car, which is sold in the UK, but today's news quells these allegations. The car maker is also suspected of using non-Japanese testing processes on the iRVR, Pajero and Outlander models, although the issue is only related to cars sold in Japan.

How the Mitsubishi fuel economy scandal unfolded

News for the case first broke when Mitsubishi admitted to rigging fuel tests in the middle of April, when it said around 625,000 Mitsubishi-made cars could be affected, including vehicles produced for Nissan.

The models initially named were four superminis; the Mitsubishi eK Wagon and eK Space, and the Nissan Dayz and Dayz Roox.

All four models are 'kei' cars - models with small-capacity engines and compact dimensions, which are extremely popular in Asia. Of the 625,000 affected, 468,000 units are Nissan models, while 157,000 are Mitsubishis.

Mitsubishi said it had "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". It added: "We express deep apologies to all of our customers and stakeholders for this issue."

Source: Autocar UK

Also read: Nissan to acquire 34% stake in Mitsubishi