Mitsubishi fuel-economy cheating scandal expands to more models

TOKYO — A fuel-economy cheating scandal that began with a single line of microcars now encompasses the entire domestic lineup of Mitsubishi Motors on Wednesday after the carmaker admitted it had published exaggerated mileage ratings for every model it sells in Japan. On Wednesday, Mitsubishi added nine more models — the remainder of its current lineup — to the list of affected vehicles. The widening scandal at Mistubishi adds to the scrutiny over carmakers’ reports of fuel economy and pollution ratings. Analysts have speculated that Mitsubishi, a small manufacturer with far fewer resources than Nissan, promised its partner a car with impressive mileage specifications but was unable to deliver. The issue centers on the way engineers calculate running resistance, the effect of the friction between tires and the road, under various driving conditions. The method used by Mitsubishi tends to result in a more flattering assessment of fuel economy and is approved in the United States but not in Japan.