Auto maker Mitsubishi has been cheating on fuel economy tests for 25 years, it admitted.
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Mitsubishi president Tetsuro Aikawa has acknowledged that the crisis would damage the firm’s finances and told yesterday’s briefing: “I can only apologise”.
The company compiled data for fuel economy tests using US standards. Since the admission last week, the company has lost half of its market value, roughly $3.9 billion.
Mitsubishi sells five models in the USA including three cars and two SUVs.
Last week, Mitsubishi admitted unnamed employees rigged tests to make some of its cars seem more fuel-efficient than they were in reality.
Mitsubishi sells five models in the US, including the Outlander, Outlander Sport, Mirage, Lancer and I-Miev electric vehicle. He also said he did not know why workers resorted to lying about mileage.
However in Japan, city driving is more prevalent, and consumes more fuel.
The revelation came from a press release titled “Improper conduct in fuel consumption testing on products manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC)”, wherein the company found that the fuel consumption tests show improper data during the certification process of mini-vehicles.
Mitsubishi has disclosed it cheated on four models, including two it produces for Nissan Motor Co, both of which are specifically marketed in Japan.
“Driving resistance data were obtained for that fuel-economy grade using a ‘high-speed coasting test, ‘ which differed from the coasting test required by the applicable laws and regulations in Japan”, the automaker explained in a statement.
Laura Allen, the spokeswoman for the EPA, has already instructed the Japanese automaker to provide the needed information. However, the Japanese carmaker said, it used suitable testing methods for vehicles that are sold in the United States and other overseas markets. Nissan engineers discovered the discrepancy a year ago, the company said.
Mr Aikawa added that it was unclear how many customers were going to be compensated because the extent of the manipulation was still under investigation.
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Asked about the EPA action, Mitsubishi executive Ryugo Nakao said that “not everything is clear”.
