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Thread: Mitsubishi says employees cheated on fuel economy/emissions tests

  1. #1
    Member Heffu's Avatar
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    Mitsubishi says employees cheated on fuel economy/emissions tests

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    Mitsubishi eK Wagon, one of the affected vehicles. The company says they're investigating if other models are involved.

    So after all the VW etc. skandals who is supprised?

    Sad things to read..

    The models affected include the eK Wagon and eK Space, manufactured and sold by Mitsubishi, and the Dayz and Dayz Roox, manufactured by Mitsubishi and supplied to Nissan for sale. According to Mitsubishi, it was Nissan's in-house testers that discovered the discrepancy between the cars' published fuel efficiency data, and their real-life results.
    Source: http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/20/11...ficiency-tests

    During our internal investigation, we have found that the testing method which was different from the one required by Japanese law has been applied to other models manufactured by MMC for the Japanese domestic market.

    Taking into account the seriousness of these issues, we will also conduct an investigation into products manufactured for overseas markets.
    Source: http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/pub...etailg420.html

    The tests overstated fuel efficiency by 5 percent to 10 percent
    Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...-of-fuel-tests

    See also:

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/bu...-a6992291.html


    Last edited by MetroMPG; 04-20-2016 at 01:12 PM. Reason: (added pic, more info)
    Mitsubishi Space Star 1.2 Cleartec Invite CVT

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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Space Star 1.2 automatic: 41.2 mpg (US) ... 17.5 km/L ... 5.7 L/100 km ... 49.5 mpg (Imp)


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  3. #2
    Bikerfreind
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    Im not surprised, i think "some" industries will tell you how wonderful their product is, but irl it's much more complicated or not so "wonderful" as the test and papers tells everybody.
    One good thing is, that they not found any bad results with the Mirage (Yet..) - and none of the cars are sold in EU..

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    So adding air to tires is as bad as programming two fuel maps into the ECU, one for when only the front wheels are turning, the other for the rest of the time.

    Funny how these days "mistakes" always benefit the people who make those "mistakes".

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage de 1.2 manual: 55.7 mpg (US) ... 23.7 km/L ... 4.2 L/100 km ... 66.9 mpg (Imp)


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  6. #4

    Affects Japan only ... for now

    Mitsu says the only affected models are four Kei class micro-cars sold in Japan. But they're investigating other vehicles sold internationally.

    Here's the company's full statement, with pertinent info highlighted by me:

    Tokyo, April 20, 2016

    Improper conduct in fuel consumption testing on products
    manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC)

    In connection with the certification process for the mini-cars manufactured by MMC, we found that with respect to the fuel consumption testing data submitted to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), MMC conducted testing improperly to present better fuel consumption rates than the actual rates; and that the testing method was also different from the one required by Japanese law. We express deep apologies to all of our customers and stakeholders for this issue.

    The applicable cars are four mini-car models, two of which are the "eK Wagon" and "eK Space" which have been manufactured by MMC; and the other two are the "Dayz" and "Dayz Roox" which have been manufactured by MMC and supplied to Nissan Motors Corporation (NM) since June 2013. Up until the end of March 2016, MMC has sold 157 thousand units of the eK Wagon and eK Space and supplied 468 thousand units of the Dayz and Dayz Roox to NM.

    Since MMC developed the applicable cars and was responsible for obtaining the relevant certifications, MMC conducted fuel consumption testing. In the process of the development for the next generation of mini-car products, NM examined the fuel consumption rates of the applicable cars for NM's reference and found deviations in the figures. NM requested MMC to review the running resistance(*) value set by MMC during tests by MMC. In the course of our internal investigation upon this request, MMC learned of the improper conduct that MMC used the running resistance value for testing which provided more advantageous fuel consumption rates than the actual rates. MMC will sincerely respond to our customers who own and use the applicable cars.

    (*) running resistance: rolling resistance (mainly generated by tires) and air resistance while vehicles are moving

    We have decided to stop production and sales of the applicable cars. NM also has stopped sales of the applicable cars, and MMC and NM will discuss compensation regarding this issue.

    During our internal investigation, we have found that the testing method which was different from the one required by Japanese law has been applied to other models manufactured by MMC for the Japanese domestic market.

    Taking into account the seriousness of these issues, we will also conduct an investigation into products manufactured for overseas markets.

    In order to conduct an investigation into these issues objectively and thoroughly, we plan to set up a committee consisting of only external experts. We will publish the results of our investigation as soon as it is complete.
    Source: http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/pub...etailg420.html

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 63.2 mpg (US) ... 26.9 km/L ... 3.7 L/100 km ... 75.9 mpg (Imp)


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  8. #5

    2017 EPA testing changes address this very problem

    It sounds like the same thing that Hyundai & Ford was caught cheating on by the EPA, which forced the companies to issue revised (lower) fuel economy ratings for the affected vehicles and issue payments to affected customers in some cases.

    Similar to Mitsu, Hyundai said they made "mistakes" during coastdown testing, which is how they get the "running resistance"/road load values wrong that are programmed into the dynamometer for fuel economy/emissions testing.

    Enter a more "favourable" road load/running resistance value, and the MPG measurement turns out better than it should.

    This is partly why for the 2017 model year the EPA revised the coastdown/road load testing procedure, making the rules stricter. The new rules probably explain why the 2017 Mirage has slightly lower fuel economy ratings than the 2014/2015 model.


    See:
    EPA tweaks fuel economy test to improve accuracy of mpg labels


        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 63.2 mpg (US) ... 26.9 km/L ... 3.7 L/100 km ... 75.9 mpg (Imp)


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  10. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by old mechanic View Post
    Funny how these days "mistakes" always benefit the people who make those "mistakes".
    Only if they don't get caught. This is going to hurt Mitsu's bottom line:

    The company said the violation may result in the Japanese automaker having to pay back government tax rebates for the vehicles, of which 468,000 were supplied to Nissan Motor Co.

    Mitsubishi Motors’ shares fell 15 percent for the biggest decline in more than a decade in Tokyo trading, cutting its market value to 721 billion yen ($6.6 billion).
    Not counting the possible return of rebate money & government penalties, this little "mistake" just knocked a billion dollars off the company's value!

    Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...-of-fuel-tests

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 63.2 mpg (US) ... 26.9 km/L ... 3.7 L/100 km ... 75.9 mpg (Imp)


  11. #7
    Administrator Daox's Avatar
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    Very interesting!

    I wonder what'll come of it all. The Mirage ratings here in the US seem fairly accurate, and most members here are actually beating the rating by a good amount. The CVTs are averaging 41 mpg vs 40 mpg combined per the EPA. The manuals are blowing away the EPA rating of 37 mpg combined with a massive 44 mpg combined!

    Here is the averages:
    http://mirageforum.com/forum/emgarage-stats.php
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    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 47.2 mpg (US) ... 20.1 km/L ... 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.7 mpg (Imp)


  12. #8
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    another article in NY times:
    http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/21/bu...ests.html?_r=0

    So they are saying it is eK and Japan only, but the problem could be bigger.

    Would not be surprised if it has no impact on US cars, as our procedure is different, we have different spec engine and testing was likely handled locally. Will see how it plays out.

    EDIT: and BTW comparison to VW is invalid, it is more of they Hyundai or Ford MPG cheating.
    Last edited by cyclopathic; 04-20-2016 at 02:06 PM.

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 46.4 mpg (US) ... 19.7 km/L ... 5.1 L/100 km ... 55.7 mpg (Imp)


  13. #9
    Moderator Eggman's Avatar
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    Good thing we are tracking fuel economy here. If it were a problem with the Mirage in this (or any) market, it would have shown up by now.

    As was said, it's quite the opposite.

    Mitsubishi owes Daox & MetroMPG.

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 49.6 mpg (US) ... 21.1 km/L ... 4.7 L/100 km ... 59.5 mpg (Imp)


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  15. #10
    ^ Agreed. We've known for a few years now that the Mirage's EPA & NRCAN ratings are conservative/realistic.

    However, ratings in all other countries represented in the forum are likey too optimistic for the "typical" driver.

    Quote Originally Posted by cyclopathic View Post
    Would not be surprised if it has no impact on US cars, as our procedure is different
    Hopefully so. And the 2017 model year ratings were specifically revised to toughen the coast down/road load measurement to prevent just this kind of thing (thank Hyundai/Ford).


        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 63.2 mpg (US) ... 26.9 km/L ... 3.7 L/100 km ... 75.9 mpg (Imp)


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