Mitsubishi Motors Corporation was caught red-handed in its domestic market of Japan as having submitted inaccurate fuel-economy numbers to the country's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The carmaker had done so for four JDM models (two of which are rebadged versions for Nissan), and these are:
* Mitsubishi eK Wagon
* Mitsubishi eK Space
* Nissan Dayz
* Nissan Dayz Roox
Naturally, we wanted to get a statement from the company, and so we asked Mitsubishi Motors Philippines first vice president Froilan Dytianquin, who said: "For now, MMC has directed us to use its official statement. The four models are sold only in Japan and not in the Philippines."
So here is the full text of MMC's statement (in italics):
In connection with the certification process for the mini-cars manufactured by MMC, we found that with respect to the fuel-consumption testing data submitted to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, MMC conducted testing improperly to present better fuel-consumption rates than the actual rates; and that the testing method was also different from the one required by Japanese law. We express deep apologies to all of our customers and stakeholders for this issue.
The applicable cars are four mini-car models, two of which are the eK Wagon and the eK Space, which have been manufactured by MMC; and the other two are the Dayz and the Dayz Roox, which have been manufactured by MMC and supplied to Nissan Motor Corporation since June 2013. Up until the end of March 2016, MMC has sold 157,000 units of the eK Wagon and the eK Space, and supplied 468,000 units of the Dayz and the Dayz Roox to Nissan.
Since MMC developed the applicable cars and was responsible for obtaining the relevant certifications, MMC conducted fuel-consumption testing. In the process of the development for the next generation of mini-car products, Nissan examined the fuel-consumption rates of the applicable cars for its reference and found deviations in the figures. Nissan requested MMC to review the running resistance value set by MMC during tests. In the course of our internal investigation upon this request, MMC learned of the improper conduct with which MMC used the running resistance value for testing, which provided more advantageous fuel-consumption rates than the actual rates. MMC will sincerely respond to our customers who own and use the applicable cars.
We have decided to stop production and sales of the applicable cars. Nissan also has stopped sales of the applicable cars, and MMC and Nissan will discuss compensation regarding this issue.
During our internal investigation, we have found that the testing method that was different from the one required by Japanese law has been applied to other models manufactured by MMC for the Japanese domestic market.
Taking into account the seriousness of these issues, we will also conduct an investigation into products manufactured for overseas markets. In order to conduct an investigation into these issues objectively and thoroughly, we plan to set up a committee consisting of only external experts. We will publish the results of our investigation as soon as it is complete.
