Fuel consumption scandal: Mitsubishi SA responds

Johannesburg - Earlier in April, Wheels24 reported that Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motor Corporation (MMC) admitted it falsified fuel-efficiency tests in more than 600 000 vehicles, after reports of misconduct sent its Tokyo-listed shares crashing.

The embarrassing revelation comes in the wake of a massive pollution-cheating scandal at Volkswagen that erupted in September 2015 and which the German automaker continues to be embroiled in.

Mitsubishi South Africa said that vehicles involved in the fuel-consumption debacle are not sold locally.

Mitsubishi SA marketing manager Braam Faul said: "The Mitsubishi Motor Corporation announced that it will set up a committee consisting of external experts only to further investigate products manufactured for the export market, and will publish the results of the investigation as soon as it is completed.''

Sales halted, manufacturing seized

The fuel consumption data submitted to the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) was calculated using a different testing method resulting in more favourable consumption rates, reports Mitsubishi. This affects four mini car models for the Japanese market.

The affected vehicles – the Mitsubishi eK-Wagon and eK-Space as well as the Dayz and Dayz Roox manufactured by MMC for the Nissan Motor Corporation - were produced and sold from June 2013 to March 2016.

Sales of these vehicles have been halted and manufacturing seized.

MMC apologised to its customers and stakeholders when the automaker announced that the testing method used was different from that required by Japanese law for models manufactured for its domestic market.