Mitsubishi Motors (MMC) said it would "cooperate fully" with German prosecutors probing whether some vehicles sold in Germany had a so-called 'defeat device' which ensures the permissible limits for nitrogen oxides (NOx) are met on bench tests, but not in real-life use.
The alleged use of such devices on diesel engines led to Volkswagen Group's 'dieselgate' crisis and has so far cost the automaker billions of euros in recall and vehicle repurchase costs, as well as regulatory penalties.
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Daimler last week announced a preliminary group EBIT of EUR5.6bn (2018: EUR11.1bn), noting "anticipated additional expenses for ongoing governmental and court proceedings and measures relating to Mercedes-Benz diesel vehicles in various regions and markets" were not included.
MMC said Frankfurt public prosecutor authorities had visited its European R&D facility based in Germany and the German distributor for an investigation.
According to the prosecutor's office, the subject of the on-site investigations were passenger cars with a 2.2 litre diesel engine meeting emission standard Euro 5b, as well as 2.2 litre and 1.6 litre diesel engines compliant with Euro 6b (such engines are no longer manufactured).
Specifically, the prosecutor said there haD been "a suspicion that those engines are equipped with a so-called 'defeat device'".
MMC said the 1.6 litre diesel engine subject to the investigation, including its control system, is manufactured by PSA Group.
MMC said, based upon a preliminary internal investigation it had just started, it had found no engines it had manufactured are equipped with a defeat device.
"We have been fully disclosing Mitsubishi Motors manufactured engine and its control system to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), and making improvements whenever any indications are made.
The vehicles subject to the investigation had been marketed only after being approved in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, including emission standards.
"All of our vehicles in the market have been approved by [German regulator] KBA.
"…We have found no reason to believe that there was any fraud as suspected by the Frankfurt public prosecutor authorities.
"We will continue our internal inspection on this matter and also cooperate fully with the prosecutors."
