Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism: Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha have committed fraud in vehicle type approval applications!

In light of the fraudulent cases at Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. and other automakers, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has instructed 85 automakers and other companies that have obtained type approval to investigate and report on whether or not they have engaged in fraudulent activities in their type approval applications. As a result, on June 3, 2024, the MLIT announced that by the end of May, five automakers, namely Toyota Motor Corporation, Mazda Motor Co., Ltd., Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and Suzuki Motor Corporation, had reported that they had engaged in fraudulent activities in their type approval applications.

Details of the reported misconduct

Toyota Motor Corporation (*As the investigation is ongoing, only currently known misconduct is listed.)

• Submission of false data in pedestrian protection tests for three currently produced vehicles
• Regarding four previously produced vehicles, the test vehicles were tampered with during collision tests.

Related reading

The government has applied for type approval for the Yaris Cross, Corolla Fielder/Axio, and four other discontinued models… In the course of investigating the type approval application requested by the government, Toyota Motor Corporation discovered that testing methods for seven vehicle models had been conducted in a manner that did not comply with the national standards. The affected vehicles were currently in production…

Mazda Motor Corporation

• Rewriting engine control software for output testing on two currently produced vehicles
• Falsification of test vehicles during crash tests for three previously produced vehicles

Related reading

Mazda: Fraudulent practices discovered in type approval applications for two current models, the Roadster RF and MAZDA2 Mazda received a request from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on January 26, 2024, to conduct an investigation into the existence of fraudulent practices in vehicle type approval applications. Based on this request, Mazda will investigate all 2,400 vehicle type approval applications during the investigation period.

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

• Noise testing was conducted under inappropriate test conditions for one currently produced vehicle.
• False statements in the test report for horn testing for two previously produced vehicles

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

• False statements in noise test reports for 22 previously produced vehicles

Related reading

Honda has discovered inappropriate practices in the type approval applications for 22 previously sold automobiles, including noise testing and engine output… On January 26, 2024, we received an order from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to investigate “the actual situation regarding the existence of fraudulent practices in type approval applications.” We conducted an internal investigation. As a result, we found that…

Suzuki Motor Corporation

• False statements in the test report for braking system testing for one previously produced vehicle

Related reading

Suzuki “Alto” Type Approval Application Fraudulent Practices: One Past Case (2014) Discovered Suzuki Motor Corporation received an order from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to investigate whether there had been any fraudulent activity in vehicle type approval applications, and has reported the results of the investigation to the ministry. As a result of the investigation, it was found that…

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism response

The following instructions were given to the five companies that were reported to have engaged in fraudulent activities:

• Suspend shipments of vehicles involved in fraudulent practices until the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism confirms compliance with standards.
• Promptly submit the final findings of the investigation.
• Strive to provide careful explanations and support to users, etc.

Future Actions

• On-site inspections will be conducted at the five companies where misconduct has been reported to confirm the facts of the misconduct.
• The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the National Agency for Automotive and Land Transport will promptly check whether the vehicle models involved in the fraudulent acts comply with the standards.
• Based on the results of the on-site inspection and confirmation of compliance with standards, strict measures will be taken in accordance with the Road Transport Vehicle Act.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/jidosha08_hh_005134.html