Mitsubishi fuel economy scandal: no UK cars affected

Mitsubishi has revealed that no UK cars are affected by its improper fuel economy tests...

Mitsubishi fuel economy scandal: no UK cars affected

Mitsubishi has revealed that no UK cars are affected by its fuel economy test rigging, which the brand admitted has been happening since 1991 in its home market of Japan.

The Japanese car maker, whose model line-up in the UK includes the Mirage hatchback, ASX crossover, Outlander and Shogun SUVs, L200 pick-up and i-MiEV electric car, admitted earlier this year to using improper fuel tests to certify 625,000 cars. That number also includes cars built by Mitsubishi for Nissan.

In addition to UK cars not being affected, Mitsubishi revealed that cars sold elsewhere in the world - with the exception of Japan - were also not embroiled in the fuel economy scandal.

In a statement released when the scandal broke, the company expressed "deep apologies to all of our customers and stakeholders for this issue".

The company has established an investigation committee to get to the root of the problem, assess whether any other cars are affected and find out why the rigging of fuel tests took place. A full report is due in the summer.

According to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Mitsubishi sold a total of 22,693 cars in the UK in 2015. In the first three months of 2016, the firm sold 6585 cars.