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Fake figures uncovered

Posted on 25 April, 2016

Scandal has engulfed car giant Mitsubishi after it admitted falsifying fuel-efficiency tests on its mini cars sold in Japan. Test data was manipulated on 625,000 vehicles for the Japanese market, including the eK Mini car. The affected vehicles were supplied to Nissan, who discovered the cheating due to inconsistencies in fuel-economy data. Mitsubishi manipulated the load placed on tyres to exaggerate fuel economy. Shares in the company crashed 15 per cent in one afternoon and Mitsubishi has halted production and sales of the affected mini-car models. However, the number is expected to rise. “(The company) conducted testing improperly to present better fuel-consumption rates than the actual rates,” Mitsubishi president Tetsuro Aikawa confirmed at a news conference, before humbly bowing to those in attendance. “This is not a simple problem and we need time. But I’m sure there will be an impact. The damage will be big.” Cars affected included the eK Wagon, eK Space, the Dayz and Dayz Roox. Mitsubishi and Nissan are currently discussing compensation and an independent panel has been set up to investigate the issue. But there are fears there may also be an issue outside Japan, with a similar testing method used in the US.