Nissan Wants to Take Control of Mitsubishi Motors: Report

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Nissan Motor Company wants to buy a controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors, according to a report by the Japanese broadcaster NHK.

The deal would see Nissan invest 200 billion yen ($1.84 billion) into the scandal-plagued automaker, giving Nissan control, Bloomberg reports.

The scandal came to a head recently, with Mitsubishi admitting it used American standard fuel economy testing for its Japanese market vehicles — a practice, performed since 1991, that left numerous models with unrealistic gas mileage ratings.

In many cases, a 10-percent difference existed between stated mileage and real-world results.

Two of the Japanese market vehicles fingered for mileage cheating were sold by Nissan through a partnership agreement. The two companies entered into a working relationship in 2010.

The scandal saw Mitsubishi’s share values plunge, while the Japanese government mulls heavy fines that analysts believe the automaker can cover without asking for help from companies within its corporate sphere.

While sales recently took a hit in its home country, Mitsubishi’s exports to other markets rose over the past two fiscal years. The gas mileage scandal only concerns home market vehicles, though the Environmental Protection Agency asked for, and got, proof of this claim from the company.

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Jeff S Jeff S on May 12, 2016

    I hear Sergio knocking at Nissan's door. How about Fiat, Nissan, Renault, and Mitsubishi global vehicles. A redesigned Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart with design elements of the Cube and LeCar. Tata could make these new models in India.

  • TonyJZX TonyJZX on May 12, 2016

    Nissan and Mitsubishi ride on SUVs and CUVs. Apparently Nissan do quite well in the UK and Spain and certain EU countries. Also the RU. Any country they have a plant. IMO Nissan and Mitsubishi are hopeless in the c-segment hatches and small sedans. Well behind the times. In fact they make what I call govt. cars. Small cheap base trim vehicles for social service employees to use. Mitsubishi do survive due to being part of the Mitsubishi group of companies and Nissan Renault are still a global force. I do wish these people would both concentrate on a decent small compact hatch and medium car. I think they have CUVs covered.

  • TonyJZX TonyJZX on May 12, 2016

    One further thing. Nissan and Mitsu have some strengths as far as EV and hybrid goes. I think combined they would put up a decent fight. I mean they have it over Subaru and Mazda as far as electrons go and obviously electrons is the future.

  • Lorenzo Lorenzo on May 13, 2016

    Two of the Mitsu vehicles caught in the "scandal" (using American EPA mileage calculation standards) were sold by Nissan, and now Nissan is taking advantage to buy a big chunk of Mitsu since its stock tanked. Aren't there any conspiracy theorists here to connect some dots? Isn't anybody going to comment on the report that those American-calculated mileage numbers were up to 10% higher than real world results? Our B&B are getting soft.

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