Mitsubishi Materials Admits to Falsifying Data for Its Cars

The list of Japanese manufacturers getting hit with a quality assurance scandal just got longer. Mitsubishi Materials Corp., a leading nonferrous metals company in Japan, recently admitted to falsifying data for its products, which includes parts for cars and aircraft. Following similar quality control scandals at Nissan, Subaru, and Kobe Steel, Mitsubishi Materials said that that the malpractice has been going on for more than a year.

The copper, cement, and hard-metal manufacturer said three of its subsidiaries were guilty of manipulating inspection data of parts for aircraft, automobiles and industrial machinery. The quality inspectors at these subsidiaries manipulated data to match specification set by both the company and its clients, Mitsubishi Materials said. Evidence suggests the illegal practice goes back to April 2015, according to the company.

The company conducted its investigation in the wake of a data falsification scandal that hit partner Kobe Steel, and discovered that Mitsubishi Cable Industries, Mitsubishi Shindoh, and Mitsubishi Aluminum were guilty of distorting product data.

The company said that Mitsubishi Cable Industries altered quality inspection data for its rubber sealing products used in cars and aircraft for two and a half years, starting April 2015. Only 40 out of 229 potentially affected customers have been informed.

Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Shindoh manipulated data for metal products used in cars and electronics. The mother company said the problems go back to October 2016. At least 50 percent of 29 potentially affected customers have been informed.

Mitsubishi Aluminum, the third subsidiary, was discovered to ship products that did not meet customer's specifications. The 16 affected customers have been informed, according to Mitsubishi Materials.

Aside from domestic customers, some of those in the United States, China and Taiwan may have also received subpar quality products. The company said it will conduct an internal investigation to identify the causes and scope of the malpractice.

"My responsibility is to bring countermeasures across the whole company based on the results of the investigation," said Mitsubishi Materials President Akira Takeuchi in response to questions about whether he would resign over the matter.