Suzuki Has Been Breaking Emissions Rules, But Insists It Didn't Cheat

Here’s a double dose of dodgy emission testing news for you: on the same day that Mitsubishi Motors president Tetsuro Aikawa has stepped down in the wake of the company’s economy scandal, Suzuki has admitted it too hasn’t been playing by the emissions testing rules. Speaking to reporters today, company CEO Osamu Suzuki said: “the company apologises for the fact that we did not follow rules set by the country.”

Suzuki has stopped short of branding its emissions issues as ‘cheating’, as the rule bending apparently wasn’t done with the intention of making its vehicles seem cleaner and more economical. Figures taken by subsequent approved tests have revealed a negligible difference from the results of Suzuki’s improper methods. Around 2.1 million cars are affected - none of which are sold overseas - and the Japanese government has labelled Suzuki’s actions as “outrageous.”

So, what exactly has Suzuki done wrong? It all boils down the rolling resistance and air resistance part of the test. Suzuki tested individual components and collated these into a single figure rather than measuring all at once, and for the air resistance test, instead of testing outside, a wind tunnel was used. Suzuki says the rationale behind its alternative take on the rules is due to the hilltop location of its Sagara proving grounds, which makes outdoor testing difficult due to frequent bouts of windy weather.

As a result of the revelations, Suzuki’s share price fell by 15 per cent earlier today.