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Investigators say Mitsubishi mpg scandal was 'collective failure'

Investigators hired by Mitsubishi Motors to probe why the Japanese automaker engaged in falsifying fuel-economy figures for the past quarter-century faulted the company's "corporate culture." Specifically, there was a lack of unity between divisions, company-wide pressure to boost fuel-efficiency numbers, and an unwillingness to accept fuel-economy shortfalls, Automotive News says, citing comments made by consultants who hired by the company to investigate the problems. Challenging management authority even if it was proper to do so was also frowned upon. One of the investigators called the scandal "a collective failure." Among other suggestions, the consultants recommended that Mitsubishi's vehicle-mileage certification be independent from research and development, that there's greater transparency overall, and that there's a more thorough understanding of laws. New shareholder Nissan may also invest in retooling Mitsubishi's R&D operations, and is sending one of its former executives, Mitsuhiko Yamashita, to Mitsubishi to try to prevent any sort of repeat problems. Mitsubishi joined a list of automakers including Volkswagen, Hyundai/Kia, and Ford that have been found in recent years to either mislead with its published fuel-efficiency figures or emissions-testing procedures. A Nissan spokesman declined to comment on the Mitsubishi report, according to Automotive News. The recommendation comes less than three months after the announcement that Nissan would help rescue Mitsubishi from its fuel-economy scandal by acquiring part of the company. Nissan agreed in May to pay $2.2 billion for a 34-percent stake in Mitsubishi, and said at the time that Mitsubishi would join the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Nissan also owns 15 percent of France-based Renault. That announcement came right after Mitsubishi's admission that it may have falsified fuel-economy data for every one of its vehicles made in Japan dating back to 1991. Related Video: News Source: Automotive NewsImage Credit: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images Green Mitsubishi Nissan Fuel Efficiency scandal diesel scandal

Carlos Ghosn's wife appeals to President Trump to help her husband

LONDON — The wife of former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn urged U.S. President Donald Trump to raise her husband's case with Japan's prime minister at a summit of world leaders later this month. "I'd like President Trump to speak to Prime Minister Abe about fair conditions, fair trial conditions and to let me speak to my husband and also to respect this presumption of innocence until proven guilty," Beirut-born Carole Ghosn, who has a U.S. passport, told the BBC. Shinzo Abe is due to host other leaders of the Group of 20 economies in the Japanese city of Osaka on June 28-29. In April Carole Ghosn called on the French government to do more to help her husband. Carlos Ghosn, who holds French, Lebanese and Brazilian citizenship, is facing financial misconduct charges and has said he is the victim of a boardroom coup, accusing "backstabbing" former colleagues of conspiring to oust him as Nissan chairman. Carole Ghosn said she had not spoken to her husband since he was re-arrested on April 4 before being released on bail three weeks later. "They told him one of the bail conditions, the restrictions, is he isn't allowed to speak to me or talk to me, which I find inhumane," she said. "All of this could have been dealt with internally within the company. This didn't need to go this far and on top of it my husband is innocent and time will prove the truth." (Writing by William Schomberg, editing by Louise Heavens) Government/Legal Mitsubishi Nissan Renault

NHTSA begins inquiry into Mitsubishi fuel economy

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to make sure Mitsubishi doesn't falsify fuel economy ratings in the US like the company does in Japan. "We've requested information from Mitsubishi about this issue," a NHTSA spokesperson told Reuters. The person didn't provide details about the specific models the regulator wanted to know more about. At this time, there's no evidence of fuel economy inaccuracies for any North American models. The affected vehicles in Japan so far are 625,000 small kei-class cars, including the Mitsubishi eK, eK Space, Nissan Dayz, and Dayz Roox, which Mitsu produces for Nissan. However, Japanese regulators are taking a closer look at other models and gave the company a week to hand over test data. A newspaper there claims Mitsubishi allegedly used "non-Japanese test methodology" on the RVR, Outlander, Pajero, and Minicab MiEV. NHTSA's look into Mitsubishi comes at the same time the Department of Justice is scrutinizing Daimler for possible emissions anomalies. "Daimler will consequently investigate possible indications of irregularities and of course take all necessary action," the German automaker said in a statement. The company asserts the DOJ's inquiry is unrelated to a lawsuit from owners, which alleges the BlueTec emissions control system is designed to turn off at low temperatures. Related Video: