Theoretical Studies of Falsifying Fuel Economy Tests:

Normalization of Corruption

Abstract

Since 2015, multiple fuel economy frauds have been uncovered in the automotive industry. In the Japanese automobile industry, improving fuel efficiency has become one of the strategies in promoting economic measures in addition to addressing environmental issues. Corruption has been normalized for a long time at several companies. It is said that corruption in Mitsubishi Motors, one of the corrupt companies, has been going on for a long time since the 1990s, and in the face of scarce resources and tight deadlines, corruption was institutionalized and rationalized in the development sector. Some voiced improvements, but they were not enough to overturn socialization. The complexity of fuel economy tests and fuel efficiency is considered to be excessively required as a competitive index. Improvements in accordance with external rules have failed to gain legitimacy within the organization, which has chosen to continue fuel economy frauds. This is a problem that could occur not only in Mitsubishi Motors but also in other companies and other industries, and further research is necessary.