Suzuki Says It Did Not Use Wrong Methods to Test Fuel Economy

It was just a fortnight ago that it admitted to using improper methods and it was its Chairman Osamu Suzuki who said the methods of calculating mileage differ from country to country. "The way of calculating mileage (varies) in different countries... so there is not really a universal method for all over the world," he told reporters after meeting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Now, we'd said earlier that this affected cars only in Japan and not cars sold outside of its home market. Its India unit, Maruti Suzuki, had stated that the issue of using improper fuel economy and emission tests faced by parent Suzuki Motor Corp in Japan will have no implications in India.

"The system of conducting vehicle mileage tests in India is distinct from the one in Japan. In India, all vehicles are tested for road load and emissions by government approved agencies like ARAI, ICAT and VRDE," a Maruti Suzuki India spokesperson had said in a statement.

There is no fixed test mandated for auto companies in India to test fuel economy or mileage. Disclosures on this count are voluntary in India, although it is usually certified by the government-run testing body Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).

Suzuki Motor was the first automaker to come forward and admit potential wrongdoing after Japan's transport ministry asked companies to conduct internal investigations after Mitsubishi Motors overstated the ratings by as much as 10 per cent. It had stated that as many as 2.1 million vehicles in Japan were affcted including models like Alto, Alto Lapin, Wagon R, Hustler, Spacia, Every, Carry, Jimny, Solio, Ignis, Baleno, S-Cross, Swift, Escudo 2.4, Escudo and Jimny Sierra. While some of the models carry the same names as those sold in India, the technical specifications are usually different.

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