Mitsubishi Motors says it has found evidence its employees falsified fuel consumption test data for several models of vehicles.
The maker of the eK wagon and Outlander sports-utility vehicle said on Wednesday that the inaccurate tests involved 157,000 of its own brand light passenger cars and 468,000 vehicles produced for Nissan Motor.
Company President Tetsuro Aikawa said the misconduct was reported to the transportation ministry.
The problem was found after Nissan pointed out inconsistencies in emissions data. Mitsubishi conducted an internal probe and data was falsified.
Mitsubishi Motors struggled for years to win back consumer trust after a car defects scandal in the early 2000s.
Mitsubishi Motors is suspected of manipulating the load placed on the tires of four different models in order to make their fuel economy performance appear better, Kyodo news reported, citing an unidentified person.
The company's manipulation of tests would further intensify scrutiny of the auto industry after Volkswagen AG's admission last year that it rigged diesel models with software to meet US emissions standards.
"This may be different from Volkswagen's issue, but the market has become very sensitive to such kind of news," Seiji Sugiura, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Center, said by phone. "It may have a similar impact in terms of sales and the company's reputation."
Mitsubishi Motors struggled for years to win back consumer trust after a car defects scandal in the early 2000s over cover-ups of problems such as failing brakes, faulty clutches and fuel tanks prone to falling off.
Mitsubishi's manipulation of tests would further intensify scrutiny of the auto industry after Volkswagen AG's admission last year.Credit: AP
Mileage misdeeds
Mitsubishi Motors's disclosure risks doing further damage to consumers' trust in car companies' fuel economy claims. Hyundai Motors and Kia Motors agreed to pay fines and forfeit emissions credits in late 2014 to settle claims they overstated mileage ratings.
Ford lowered ratings for hybrid models in both 2014 and 2013.
The Japanese automaker has been seeking to restore confidence in its vehicles for more than a decade after a series of scandals more than a decade ago led the carmaker to seek multiple bailouts from Mitsubishi group companies. Mitsubishi Motors had covered up defects involving flawed axles that could lead wheels to detach.
"It's again bad for the company's image," Sugiura said.
It's not the first time for Mitsubishi to have this kind of issue, and this definitely won't help them rebuild their reputation.
Seiji Sugiura
"It's not the first time for Mitsubishi to have this kind of issue, and this definitely won't help them rebuild their reputation."
AP, Bloomberg