Mitsubishi admits to cheating fuel economy tests for 25 years

TOKYO, April 26 (UPI) -- Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors on Tuesday admitted that it has falsified some fuel consumption tests since 1991.

"For the domestic market, we have been using that method since 1991," Mitsubishi Vice President Ryugo Nakao said at a Tokyo press conference referring to last week's revelation Mitsubishi rigged fuel economy tests in about 625,000 vehicles to make mileage figures better.

The vehicles affected in the scandal were only sold in Japan. They include the eK wagon, eK Space, Dayz and Dayz Roox vehicles -- marketed as "minicars" that are very small and sport 600cc engines.

Mitsubishi shares fell an additional 10 percent on Tuesday, falling about 50 percent total since the revelations began. Mitsubishi President Tetsuro Aikawa said an investigation is ongoing and suggested more issues could be found.

"We don't know the whole picture and we are in the process of trying to determine that. I feel a great responsibility," Aikawa said, adding that he did not know why employees rigged fuel economy tests.

Some of the affected vehicles were supplied to Nissan and sold under the Nissan brand. Aikawa previously said Mitsubishi will pay a settlement to Nissan. The company is conducting an internal investigation to determine who ordered the deception. Aikawa said he was unaware of the issues until Nissan brought it up.