Mitsubishi Motors manipulated fuel economy data on additional vehicle models.

They visited the automaker’s facility in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan. The move follows revelations on Wednesday that Mitsubishi staff manipulated the data on 4 models affecting 625,000 units sold.

Investigators found the carmaker repeatedly measured air and tire resistance in a way not compliant with the Japanese regulations to gauge fuel economy.

They were able to confirm only 3 of about 30 models marketed by the carmaker since 2002 complied with regulations.

Mitsubishi Motors used test data of running resistance from other models to make the fuel economy of mini-vehicles look better.

Company executives revealed on Wednesday that its employees fabricated fuel consumption data for 625,000 units of 4 models. Officials from the transport ministry inspected the firm’s facility in central Japan to look into the matter.

The inspectors found that Mitsubishi Motors faked data on running resistance of vehicles. The resistance comes from rolling resistance mainly generated by tires and air resistance. Auto firms can improve fuel economy data if they obtain lower resistance values.

The officials discovered that workers who got large resistance figures replaced them with smaller ones obtained from other models. The inspectors found that Mitsubishi Motors repeatedly submitted forged data to regulators for 2 years through last year.

During Wednesday’s news conference, a company official explained that engineers picked lower data on resistance, instead of adopting median figures as they were supposed to.

Mitsubishi says the then-chief of its performance testing division admitted to ordering the data manipulation. But the company adds it is still verifying the official’s confession.

The transport ministry demanded that Mitsubishi present a detailed report by next Wednesday. Mitsubishi Motors failed to conduct running resistance tests and used calculated values to make the fuel economy of mini-vehicles look better.

Transport ministry officials have found that Mitsubishi faked data on running resistance of vehicles. The resistance is mainly generated by friction between tires and road as well as wind pressure. Auto companies can improve fuel economy data if they obtain lower resistance values.

The companies get the figures by determining the interval from when the accelerator is released until when the speed decreases to a specified level. But workers at Mitsubishi calculated values without measuring the interval.
The workers made the values look like the results of actual testing and submitted them to regulators.

Mitsubishi says the then-chief of its performance testing division admitted to ordering the data manipulation. But the wrongdoing continued after the executive moved to another position.

The transport ministry demands that Mitsubishi present a detailed report by next Wednesday.Report NHK News