Suzuki Motor has just said it had used fuel efficiency and emission testing methods that were different from Japanese regulations on 16 models now sold in the country, but that proper testing showed no need to amend the data.
Japan’s fourth-largest automaker said the improper testing method dated back to 2010 and that around 2.1 million vehicles were affected. The discrepancy does not affect any Suzuki-badged vehicles overseas, it said in a statement.
CEO Osamu Suzuki told reporters that his workers did not intentionally use improper data. “The company apologizes for the fact that we did not follow rules set by the country,” he said.
The automaker said it plans to continue sales of its cars given that new readings had not deviated much from those previously submitted, adding that it did not see much impact on earnings for now.
Suzuki said it measured data related to components such as tires, brakes and transmissions, and combined those results with air resistance tests in a wind tunnel.
Suzuki specializes in mini vehicles, which have engines of up to 660cc and get preferential tax treatment under Japanese law. It commands roughly one-third of the country’s mini vehicle market, where it trails only Daihatsu.
