Every smog cloud has its silver lining. Volkswagen is still on the hook for installing “cheat devices” – software that made its cars appear cleaner than they were – but it’s now emerged that it’s not the only one to play dirty. To one degree or another, it seems a number of car brands have been playing fast and loose with the rules.
Mitsubishi Motors president Tetsuro Aikawa is in the firing line
The car industry won’t be able to forget last week fast enough. We saw the bosses at Japanese car firm Mitsubishi hang their heads in shame. Evidence that they had falsified fuel economy data was uncovered in raid on their factory in Okazaki, central Japan. The government has given them until tomorrow to explain themselves.
Closer to home, French car maker Peugeot Citroen was on the receiving end of an unexpected visit from the authorities. It claims it’s done nothing wrong, echoing Renault which was raided in January.
Also last week, 37 car models in Britain and 56 in Germany were found to exceed EU standards on air quality and pollution when tested.
And at the weekend, the Germans were pointing accusing figures at the Italians after their tests suggested “some Fiat vehicles showed irregular diesel exhaust pollution”, Reuters reported. The Italians have yet to respond.
That’s a lot horn-blowing in the space of just a few days. So what on earth is going on?
Read more: Money Week