Nissan caught out falsifying Japanese car emission tests

● Tests altered for cars sold in Japan ● Firm ‘regretful’ at exhaust findings

Nissan has admitted it altered the results of exhaust emissions and fuel economy tests of new vehicles in the latest misconduct surrounding one of the world’s largest car makers.

The Japanese car firm made the revelation as a US appeals court yesterday approved a $10 billion (about £7.5bn) settlement between Volkswagen and car owners caught up in the company’s emissions cheating scandal.

The deal delivered “tangible, substantial benefits” and the federal judge who approved it did more than enough to make sure it was fair, a three-judge panel ruled unanimously.

The German automaker agreed to the compensation for owners of roughly 475,000 Volkswagens and Audi vehicles with two-litre diesel engines.

Volkswagen acknowledged the cars were programmed to cheat on emissions tests. Under the terms of the deal, the carmaker agreed to either buy back the cars or fix them and to pay each owner thousands in additional compensation.

Nissan acknowledged in September it had been carrying out illegal post-production tests at its plants, allowing those who weren’t qualified to routinely conduct the tests.

The new misconduct applies to cars sold in Japan.

The revelation surfaced while Nissan was recently checking on its operations.

The company said it found the findings “regretful” and promised to continue to investigate.

Nissan, which makes the Leaf electric car, March subcompact and Infiniti luxury models, said the safety and fuel economy of all the vehicles were still within required limits.

The erroneous testing does not affect exports.

The company said it had rechecked “reliable” data and confirmed all vehicles except the GT-R sports car conformed to Japanese safety standards.

Nissan did not explain why the GT-R had been excluded.

In the earlier scandal, workers in training had been borrowing and using the “hanko,” or stamps that are often used in Japan for signatures, of certified personnel. Nissan has had to recall more than a million vehicles for re-inspection because of the problems.

Such practices had been routine for decades, starting as early as 1979, according to Nissan.

Plant workers were aware the procedure was illegal and covered it up when government inspectors visited the plants. Executives have taken pay cuts.