Mitsubishi Mothballs 8 Models In Fuel Efficiency Scandal

(RTTNews) - Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (7211, MMTOF.PK) has suspended sales of eight car models in Japan after the country's Transport Ministry said the automaker overstated the fuel-economy figures for those models.

Japan's Transport Ministry has ordered Mitsubishi to stop domestic sales of the eight vehicle models and submit correct fuel-economy readings for the offending vehicles.

"Our investigation confirmed that the fuel economy on eight models… were as much as 8.8% and on average 4.2% lower than advertised," the transport ministry stated.

Mitsubishi, Japan's sixth-largest automaker, said it will suspend sales of the eight models for two weeks. The models include the Outlander, Pajero and RVR SUV.

In April, Mitsubishi admitted manipulating fuel economy data for about 625,000 vehicles sold in Japan. The company admitted to falsifying fuel-economy data for four mini-car models, two of which are the "eK Wagon" and "eK Space" that were manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors.

The other two mini-car models were the "Dayz" and "Dayz Roox," which have been manufactured by Mitsubishi and supplied to Nissan Motors Corp. since June 2013.

The latest announcement brings the total number of Mitsubishi vehicle models withdrawn from the market for falsified fuel-economy data to twelve.

In April, Mitsubishi revealed a fraud in its fuel-consumption test. The scandal-hit company's President Tetsuro Aikawa resigned, taking the responsibility for the fraud.

The scandal prompted Mitsubishi to seek financial help from Nissan Motors, which agreed to acquire a controlling one-third stake in the company.