This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/21/business/mitsubishi-fuel-economy-tests.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Admits Cheating on Fuel-Economy Tests | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| TOKYO — Mitsubishi Motors cheated on fuel-economy tests for a popular microcar it produces in Japan, the automaker said on Wednesday, adding that its engineers had intentionally manipulated testing procedures to make the cars appear to consume less fuel. | TOKYO — Mitsubishi Motors cheated on fuel-economy tests for a popular microcar it produces in Japan, the automaker said on Wednesday, adding that its engineers had intentionally manipulated testing procedures to make the cars appear to consume less fuel. |
| The cheating affected about 620,000 vehicles sold in the Japanese market, Tetsuro Aikawa, the company’s president, said at a news conference. | The cheating affected about 620,000 vehicles sold in the Japanese market, Tetsuro Aikawa, the company’s president, said at a news conference. |
| But the problem could be even bigger, Mr. Aikawa indicated. He said the same testing method that produced the flawed fuel-economy ratings for the microcar, called the eK, was used on other models in Japan, contrary to national testing standards. | But the problem could be even bigger, Mr. Aikawa indicated. He said the same testing method that produced the flawed fuel-economy ratings for the microcar, called the eK, was used on other models in Japan, contrary to national testing standards. |
| The company is investigating whether economy ratings for other models have been exaggerated as a result, he said. | The company is investigating whether economy ratings for other models have been exaggerated as a result, he said. |
| “It has become clear that improper testing methods were used to improve the appearance of fuel efficiency,” Mr. Aikawa said, before he and other company leaders bowed deeply in apology. Company executives called the manipulation “intentional.” | “It has become clear that improper testing methods were used to improve the appearance of fuel efficiency,” Mr. Aikawa said, before he and other company leaders bowed deeply in apology. Company executives called the manipulation “intentional.” |
| Automakers’ reports of fuel-economy and pollution ratings have come under especially close scrutiny after a scandal at Volkswagen last year. The German automaker was found to have manipulated software in 11 million diesel vehicles to cheat on emissions tests. | Automakers’ reports of fuel-economy and pollution ratings have come under especially close scrutiny after a scandal at Volkswagen last year. The German automaker was found to have manipulated software in 11 million diesel vehicles to cheat on emissions tests. |
| Mitsubishi’s reputation has been battered by scandal before. In 2000, the company admitted that it had been hiding reports on vehicle defects for more than two decades. The revelation contributed to its sales plunging and nearly pushed it into bankruptcy. | Mitsubishi’s reputation has been battered by scandal before. In 2000, the company admitted that it had been hiding reports on vehicle defects for more than two decades. The revelation contributed to its sales plunging and nearly pushed it into bankruptcy. |
| This time, wrongdoing at Mitsubishi appears to have been exposed by an unexpected source: another Japanese carmaker, Nissan Motor. | This time, wrongdoing at Mitsubishi appears to have been exposed by an unexpected source: another Japanese carmaker, Nissan Motor. |
| Mitsubishi manufactures the eK and sells it at dealerships in Japan. But it also supplies versions of the car to Nissan, which markets them under the Nissan brand as a model called Dayz. Nissan, a larger company with a more extensive dealer network, actually sells more of the vehicles than Mitsubishi does. | Mitsubishi manufactures the eK and sells it at dealerships in Japan. But it also supplies versions of the car to Nissan, which markets them under the Nissan brand as a model called Dayz. Nissan, a larger company with a more extensive dealer network, actually sells more of the vehicles than Mitsubishi does. |
| Last year, Nissan became more closely involved in development and design of the car, Mr. Aikawa said. Its engineers noticed the discrepancy in the published fuel-efficiency rating — 25 to 30 kilometers per liter, or 60 to 70 miles per gallon, depending on the model — and it confronted Mitsubishi. | Last year, Nissan became more closely involved in development and design of the car, Mr. Aikawa said. Its engineers noticed the discrepancy in the published fuel-efficiency rating — 25 to 30 kilometers per liter, or 60 to 70 miles per gallon, depending on the model — and it confronted Mitsubishi. |