Mitsubishi Motors President Tetsuro Aikawa To Resign Over Mileage Scandal

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. President Tetsuro Aikawa will step down to take responsibility for the fuel economy data scandal, the Nikkei reported.

Aikawa, who temporarily will be succeeded by Chairman Osamu Masuko, is set to leave around the time the third-party investigative committee compiles the final report in July or the stockholders meeting in June, the paper reported.

Masuko would continue in the dual role until the completion of Nissan Motor Co.’s acquisition of a stake in Mitsubishi, the Nikkei added.

Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan could not be immediately reached for a comment.

Separately, only Mitsubishi and Suzuki used improper fuel economy tests for their cars in Japan, an official at the transport ministry said at a briefing on Wednesday.

The official also said the ministry had asked Suzuki to provide more information by May 31.

Suzuki said on Wednesday it had used tests that were not compliant with Japanese regulations, but added proper testing carried out later showed the mileage data did not need amending.

Mitsubishi said last month it had manipulated fuel economy for at least four minivehicle models.

Nissan would appoint one of its directors to head Mitsubishi Motors’ product development division after Mitsubishi Motors’ regular shareholder meeting on June 24, the Nikkei newspaper reported.

Mitsubishi, Japan’s sixth-largest automaker, admitted in April it had overstated the fuel efficiency of 625,000 cars, wiping off around 40 percent of its market value, or $3.2 billion in three days.

Mitsubishi Motors plans to decrease its own directors from 13 to 11, while Nissan is set to nominate four directors, including the chairman, the paper added.