Its announcement comes after Japan’s transport ministry ordered all domestic automakers to investigate their fuel economy testing methods in the wake of revelations that Mitsubishi Motors Corp used methods that did not comply with regulations.
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No Suzuki-branded cars sold overseas were affected, according to the auto maker, whose shares fell 9 per cent in response to the revelations.
Chairman Osamu Suzuki will report the issue to Japan’s transport ministry on Wednesday, spokesman Hidehiro Hirano said by phone.
Despite the irregular testing methods, Suzuki denied accusations that it had deliberately falsified data to make their vehicles seem more fuel efficient.
President and Chief Operating Officer Tetsuro Aikawa, along with Executive Vice President Ryugo Nakao, will step down in June when Mitsubishi holds its annual shareholders’ meeting, the company said.
It was Nissan that first uncovered problems with the fuel economy data, but Mitsubishi has said Nissan had no part in the cheating. Just a few weeks ago, Mitsubishi had officially announced that it had stated wrong fuel economy data for some of its models. Suzuki Motor Corp. said that since 2010 it has been using methods to measure fuel efficiency not compatible with Japanese standards. Earlier in the day, the stock had plunged as much as 15 percent.
In addition to the resignations, Chairman Osamu Masuko said he will forgo compensation until a new management team is formed.
In April 2016, Mitsubishi admitted rigging the fuel economy tests of 6,25,000 cars in Japan. However, unlike Mitsubishi, which stopped production of the affected cars, the company has said that it will continue selling its vehicles.
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About 22 percent of Suzuki’s 2.86 million worldwide vehicles sales were in Japan during the fiscal year ended in March, as the company has shifted its focus to expanding in India.
