Defeat Device Suspicions Lead to Mitsubishi Probe
Mitsubishi is under investigation by German prosecutors for the suspected use of illegal defeat devices on diesel engines. As usual, the probe was kicked off by a series of raids — practically a cliche at this point.
Germany has certainly ran with the concept after U.S. regulators faulted Volkswagen for using illegal defeat devices to cheat diesel emission testing procedures in 2015. The reality is that regulators are cracking down the world over since the scandal, with Deutschland taking extra precautions to ensure other domestic brands don’t shame themselves like VW did.
Investigators are looking at 1.6-liter and 2.2-liter 4-cylinder Euro 5 and Euro 6 diesel engines and asking individuals who own Mitsubishi models (built after 2014) with those units to contact the police.
However, it’s not clear just how involved the automaker actually was with the alleged crime. According to Reuters, Mitsubishi Europe has verified it’s under investigation but noted that it’s not responsible for the development or production of the manufacturer’s vehicles. While Volkswagen did furnish Mitsubishi with diesel engines for the European market within the last decade, the motors under suspicion appear to be the 4N1 units developed in collaboration with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
On Tuesday, German authorities raided 10 locations in that country — three of which were said to be owned by Continental. Frankfurt police also said one staffer from an “international carmaker” was being probed for fraud, adding that a dealership and two parts suppliers are also being investigated. Specific details could not be offered due to the ongoing state of the examination.
[Image: FotograFFF/Shutterstock]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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"Investigators are looking at 1.6-liter and 2.2-liter 4-cylinder Euro 5 and Euro 6 diesel engines and asking individuals who own Mitsubishi models (built after 2014) with those units to contact the police." Are they going to arrest the cars? Or just the engines?
So now we have VW, BMW, Daimler-Benz, Renault/Nissan, PSA, FCA, and Mitsubishi all under suspicion. Who else sold diesel passenger cars in the Euro market during this period? I guess Ford, GM, Toyota, and Honda. There can't be that many others.
Real world crash videos of this death trap make the Insurance Institute results look like Romper Room. Every one of these things should be pulled off the road and scrapped and then sold to Honduh to make more idiot making vehicles.
Wow, look at that stock image. Even Mitsubishi's prospects seem good on a sunny day like that!