Mitsubishi president to resign over fuel economy scandal, report says

By Stephen Edelstein Published May 18, 2016

The president of Mitsubishi Motors is stepping down after the company’s admission that it cheated on fuel economy tests in Japan, a new report claims. The news comes hot on the heels of Nissan’s announcement that it would purchase a controlling stake in the beleaguered carmaker.

Current president Tetsuro Aikawa’s post will be filled by Mitsubishi CEO Osamu Masuko, according to the Nikkei Asian Review (via Automotive News). Masuko will reportedly handle presidential responsibilities until Nissan’s purchase of a 34 percent stake in Mitsubishi is finalized. A longer-term management change could result from the impending Nissan takeover.

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Aikawa “has roots” in Mitsubishi’s product development unit, according to the Nikkei report. He is reportedly taking the blame for the scandal because the scheme to cheat on fuel economy tests originated in that division. Mitsubishi used its own testing procedures on certain models for years, yielding higher fuel economy results than would have been achieved with the testing methods mandated by the Japanese government.

Read more: GM misstates fuel economy on SUV window stickers

Mitsubishi employed a “high-speed coasting test” that produced a more favorable calculation for air resistance, which is factored into fuel economy tests. The company claims it ordered employees to stop using the illegal method in 2007, but that they continued anyway. It also claims the difference between the two testing procedures never exceeded 2.3 percent, although fuel economy ratings were reported to be as much as 5 to 10 percent higher than they should have been.

The issue was brought to light by Nissan, which sold 468,000 of the estimated 620,000 cars confirmed to have inflated fuel economy ratings under its own brand name. All models are small “kei” cars sold only in Japan. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration subsequently requested information on fuel economy testing from Mitsubishi. The company says all of its 2013 through 2017 models comply with U.S. standards.

Last week, Nissan announced it would pay $2.17 billion for a 34-percent stake in Mitsubishi. Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan and partner Renault, said the intention is to help Mitsubishi overcome the fuel economy scandal and incorporate it into the Renault Nissan Alliance. While Mitsubishi has lost its independence, it’s likely gained a future. The carmaker was in dire straits even before the scandal hit, with a small, aging lineup and no real prospects for growth.

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Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Waymo faces questions about its use of onboard cameras for AI training, ads targeting

Two people exit a Waymo taxi.

In an iconic scene from the 2002 sci-fi film Minority Report, on-the-run Agent John Anderton, played by Tom Cruise, struggles to walk through a mall as he’s targeted by a multitude of personalized ads from the likes of Lexus, Guinness and American Express, everytime hidden detectors identify his eyes.
It was clearly meant as a warning about a not-so-desirable dystopian future.
Yet, 23 years later that future is at least partlially here in the online world and threatens to spread to other areas of daily life which are increasingly ‘connected’, such as the inside of cars. And the new testing grounds, according to online security researcher Jane Manchun Wong, might very well be automated-driving vehicles, such as Waymo’s robotaxis.
On X, Wong unveiled an unreleased version of Waymo’s privacy policy that suggests the California-based company is preparing to use data from its robotaxis, including interior cameras, to train generative AI models and to offer targetted ads.
“Waymo may share data to improve and analyze its functionality and to tailor products, services, ads, and offers to your interests,” the Waymo’s unreleased privacy statement reads. “You can opt out of sharing your information with third parties, unless it’s necessary to the functioning of the service.”
Asked for comments about the unreleased app update, Waymo told The Verge that it contained “placeholder text that doesn’t accurately reflect the feature’s purpose”.
Waymo’s AI-models “are not designed to use this data to identify individual people, and there are no plans to use this data for targeted ads,” spokesperson Julia Ilina said.
Waymo’s robotaxis, which are operating on the streets of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin, do contain onboard cameras that monitor riders. But Ilina says these are mainly used to train AI models for safety, finding lost items, check that in-car rules are followed, and to improve the service.
The new feature is still under development and offers riders an opportunity to opt out of data collection, Ilina says.
But as we all get used to ads targeting based on everything that’s somehow connected to the web, it seems a once-distant vision of the future may be just around the corner.

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Waymo’s driverless cars are about to begin an overseas adventure

Waymo Jaguar I-Pace

Waymo’s autonomous cars are about to appear on streets outside of the U.S. for the first time.

The company on Wednesday announced on social media that its autonomous cars will be driving onto the streets of Tokyo, Japan, “soon,” with some reports suggesting the rollout will begin as early as next week.

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Buy Now, Upgrade Later: Slate’s $25K Truck Flips the Script on EVs

many hybrids rank as most reliable of all vehicles evs progress consumer reports cr tout cars 0224

A new electric vehicle startup—quietly backed by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos—is building something bold in Michigan. Not just a car, but a whole new idea of what an EV company can be. Slate Auto is a stealthy new automaker with one mission: ditch the luxury-first EV playbook and start from the affordable —which most drivers actually seek.
The start-up has been operating out of public sight since 2022, until TechCrunch found out about its existence. Of course, creating a little mystery about a potentially game-changing concept is a well-tested marketing approach.
But Slate truly seems to approach EVs in a very different way than most: It isn’t debuting with a six-figure spaceship-on-wheels. Instead, it's targeting the holy grail of EV dreams: a two-seat electric pickup truck for just $25,000. Yep, twenty-five grand. That’s less than a tricked-out golf cart in some neighborhoods. Slate is flipping the Tesla model on its head. Tesla, but also the likes of Lucid, BMW, and to a certain degree, Rivian, all started with high-end vehicles to build brand and bankroll future affordable car. But Slate wants to start with the people’s pickup—and letting it grow with you.
This isn’t just a cheap car. It’s a modular, upgradeable EV that’s meant to be personalized over time. Buy the basic model now, then add performance, tech, or lifestyle upgrades later—kind of like building your own dream ride one paycheck at a time. It’s a DIY car for a generation raised on customization and subscriptions. The company even trademarked the phrase: “We built it. You make it.”
Backing up this idea is an equally bold strategy: selling accessories, apparel, and utility add-ons à la Harley-Davidson and Jeep’s MoPar division. You’re not just buying a vehicle; you’re buying into a lifestyle. Think affordable EV meets open-source car culture.
Slate's approach isn't just novel—it's almost rebellious. At a time when other startups risk folding under the weight of their own lofty ambitions, Slate is keeping things lean, scalable, and customer focused. The company reportedly plans to source major components like battery packs and motors from outside suppliers, keeping manufacturing costs low while focusing energy on design, experience, and upgrade paths.
Sure, it’s all been kept under wraps—until now. With plans to begin production near Indianapolis by next year, the wraps are about to come off this EV underdog.
While, at least in spirit, the U.S. market has been dominated by high-end EVs, Slate’s “start small, scale with you” philosophy might be just the jolt the industry needs.