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Mitsubishi Cheating Scandal Expands to More Models Mitsubishi Cheating Scandal Expands to More Models
(about 1 hour later)
TOKYO — A fuel-economy cheating scandal that began with a single line of microcars now encompasses the entire domestic lineup of Mitsubishi Motors after the carmaker admitted on Wednesday that it had published exaggerated mileage ratings for every model it sells in Japan.TOKYO — A fuel-economy cheating scandal that began with a single line of microcars now encompasses the entire domestic lineup of Mitsubishi Motors after the carmaker admitted on Wednesday that it had published exaggerated mileage ratings for every model it sells in Japan.
Mitsubishi disclosed last month that it had been using improper methods to test fuel economy for 25 years. It disclosed the mistake after engineers at another carmaker, Nissan, discovered discrepancies in the ratings of a family of ultralight cars developed by Mitsubishi and sold by both companies. Mitsubishi did not initially say how extensively it had used the unapproved methods, whether it was on all models or just a few.Mitsubishi disclosed last month that it had been using improper methods to test fuel economy for 25 years. It disclosed the mistake after engineers at another carmaker, Nissan, discovered discrepancies in the ratings of a family of ultralight cars developed by Mitsubishi and sold by both companies. Mitsubishi did not initially say how extensively it had used the unapproved methods, whether it was on all models or just a few.
On Wednesday, Mitsubishi added nine more models — the remainder of its current lineup — to the list of affected vehicles. The company said it was still retesting older vehicles, but it said it had confirmed discrepancies in the ratings of an unspecified number of discontinued models, too.On Wednesday, Mitsubishi added nine more models — the remainder of its current lineup — to the list of affected vehicles. The company said it was still retesting older vehicles, but it said it had confirmed discrepancies in the ratings of an unspecified number of discontinued models, too.
The company said it had even misstated the energy efficiency of a vehicle that does not use gasoline, the all-electric i-MiEV. It acknowledged that there could problems with the ratings of every car and truck it had produced since 1991. The company said it had even misstated the energy efficiency of a vehicle that does not use gasoline, the all-electric i-MiEV. It acknowledged that there could be problems with the ratings of every car and truck it had produced since 1991.
The widening scandal at Mistubishi adds to the scrutiny over carmakers’ reports of fuel economy and pollution ratings. The industry’s reputation took a serious blow when Volkswagen admitted last year to cheating on emissions tests. The widening scandal at Mitsubishi adds to the scrutiny over carmakers’ reports of fuel economy and pollution ratings. The industry’s reputation took a serious blow when Volkswagen admitted last year to cheating on emissions tests.
Mitsubishi is already a diminished brand, especially at home. Its market share in Japan has shriveled since a scandal in the 2000s in which officials admitted hiding reports of dangerous vehicle defects for decades.Mitsubishi is already a diminished brand, especially at home. Its market share in Japan has shriveled since a scandal in the 2000s in which officials admitted hiding reports of dangerous vehicle defects for decades.
Today, Mitsubishi’s favored markets are in areas like Southeast Asia and Russia. It sells only about 10 percent of its cars in Japan.Today, Mitsubishi’s favored markets are in areas like Southeast Asia and Russia. It sells only about 10 percent of its cars in Japan.
Analysts have speculated that Mitsubishi, a small manufacturer with far fewer resources than Nissan, promised its partner a car with impressive mileage specifications but was unable to deliver. Cheap, small-engine microcars are a fiercely competitive segment of the auto market in Japan, where they account for 40 percent of new cars sold.Analysts have speculated that Mitsubishi, a small manufacturer with far fewer resources than Nissan, promised its partner a car with impressive mileage specifications but was unable to deliver. Cheap, small-engine microcars are a fiercely competitive segment of the auto market in Japan, where they account for 40 percent of new cars sold.
“I think the fact that work was being done in an insular company was one big factor,” Chairman Osamu Mashiko said at a news conference. He said successive Mitsubishi development teams had used the same flawed testing methods without questioning them. “I think the fact that work was being done in an insular company was one big factor,” Chairman Osamu Masuko said at a news conference. He said successive Mitsubishi development teams had used the same flawed testing methods without questioning them.
“There was perhaps a sense that, if someone authorized something in the past, it couldn’t be wrong,” he said.“There was perhaps a sense that, if someone authorized something in the past, it couldn’t be wrong,” he said.
Mr. Mashiko said he and other top executives had been unaware of the cheating. He said Mitsubishi was still investigating how a fuel-economy testing method not approved for use in Japan came to be used on domestic models. Mr. Masuko said he and other top executives had been unaware of the cheating. He said Mitsubishi was still investigating how a fuel-economy testing method not approved for use in Japan came to be used on domestic models.
The issue centers on the way engineers calculate so-called running resistance, the effect of the friction between tires and the road, under various driving conditions. The method used by Mitsubishi tends to result in a more flattering assessment of fuel economy and is approved in the United States but not in Japan.The issue centers on the way engineers calculate so-called running resistance, the effect of the friction between tires and the road, under various driving conditions. The method used by Mitsubishi tends to result in a more flattering assessment of fuel economy and is approved in the United States but not in Japan.
Mitsubishi said discrepancies in the ratings of the nine additional models named on Thursday were relatively small, amounting only to “several percent.” The company said it had exaggerated the mileage of the ultralight car line — sold by Mitsubishi as the eK and Nissan as the DAYZ — by a much greater extent, from 5 to 15 percent. Mitsubishi said discrepancies in the ratings of the nine additional models named on Wednesday were relatively small, amounting only to “several percent.” The company said it had exaggerated the mileage of the ultralight car line — sold by Mitsubishi as the eK and Nissan as the DAYZ — by a much greater extent, from 5 to 15 percent.