In what can only be described as a shocking revelation, Mitsubishi has confessed to manipulating fuel economy test data involving 625,000 cars in Japan. The affected lot includes four different models – two of which Mitsubishi supplies to Nissan for sale.
It all started when Nissan tested the cars supplied by Mitsubishi. To their surprise, the brand came across differences between Mitsubishi's published fuel efficiency data and their own results. According to a few Japanese reports, Mitsubishi rigged the tests by using a testing method that was different from the one required by the Japanese law.
In order to come up with better test results, Mitsubishi apparently varied the load placed above the vehicles' wheels. The brand also manipulated air and rolling resistance of the tyres. The affected cars include the eK Wagon and the eK Space sold as Mitsubishis, besides the Dayz and Dayz Roox that are made by Mitsubishi but supplied to Nissan for sale.
With this, Mitsubishi has joined a long line of carmakers who have admitted to rigging fuel efficiency and emission tests. Hyundai and Ford are already under the radar for misleading fuel economy figures of certain models. Volkswagen, on the other hand, is now preparing to compensate for its diesel gate scandal that has affected several lakh vehicles mainly in the US.
