The company halted the sale of its eK mini-wagons in Japan after Nissan noticed issues with the fuel economy data on a similar Nissan-badged Mitsubishi-made vehicle.
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The false data was discovered when Nissan pointed out inconsistencies in the ways that vehicles had been tested. Japan’s transport ministry has asked Mitsubishi to submit a detailed report.
According to USA Today, the multinational automotive manufacturer said that it conducted testing “improperly” to present better gas mileage data than the actual readings, and the testing method was not the one required by Japanese law. “MMC will sincerely respond to our customers who own and use the applicable cars.”, said the company in a statement. It said it had sold 157,000 units of two of the models, and supplied 468,000 units of the other two models to Nissan.
“Taking into account the seriousness of these issues, we will also conduct an investigation into products manufactured for overseas markets”.
The company’s latest share price on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was indicated at 583 yen a share, a 20 percent plunge from the previous day’s close. Already branded in the past for a massive recall cover-up 15 years ago, its market shares fell more than 15 percent shortly after the admission. In effect, both Mitsubishi and Nissan have suspended sales of the affected models. The automakers have also arrived at a resolution regarding the claims from the owners of the affected vehicles.
In response to Nissan’s request, Mitsubishi admitted that data had been intentionally manipulated in its fuel economy testing process for certification.
Company president Tetsuro Aikawa told the reporters in a press conference that what the staff had done was intentional, and the act of falsification of data was true.
South Korean auto makers Hyundai Motor Co. and affiliate Kia Motors Corp. agreed in 2014 to pay US$350 million in penalties to the USA government for overstating their vehicles’ fuel economy ratings.
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Unlike the Volkswagan scandal, the cheating was not caught by officials, but rather Mitsubishi Motors’ partner in minicar venture.
