Turning back the clock: Mitsubishi says false mileage tests done since 1991

Japanese automaker Mitsubishi has admitted falsifying fuel tests since 1991. A week after acknowledging it had intentionally lied about fuel economy data for some of its models, an internal investigation found such tampering dated back more than 25 years. President Tetsuro Aikawa told reporters Tuesday the probe was ongoing, suggesting that more irregularities might be found. Aikawa said so much was unknown that it’s uncertain what action the company will take. He said he didn’t know why employees resorted to such tactics to make mileage look better.

We don’t know the whole picture and we are in the process of trying to determine that. I feel a great responsibility.

President Tetsuro Aikawa

okyo-based Mitsubishi Motors had repeatedly promised to come clean after a massive scandal 15 years ago involving a systematic cover-up of auto defects. The inaccurate mileage tests involved 157,000 of its eK wagon and eK Space light passenger cars, and 468,000 Dayz and Dayz Roox vehicles produced for Nissan Motor Co. The models are all so-called “minicars” with tiny engines whose main attraction is generally great mileage. The company, which also makes the Outlander sport-utility vehicle and the i-MiEV electric car, has arranged for a panel of three lawyers, including a former prosecutor, to further investigate the mileage scandal from an outsider’s point of view, with a report expected within three months.

Mitsubishi