Photo/Illutration The main office of Hino Motors Co. in Hino on the outskirts of Tokyo (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

An investigative panel reported Aug. 2 that Hino Motors Ltd. has been tampering with exhaust emission and fuel economy figures on a wide range of its models since as far back as 2003, widening the scope of a scandal enveloping the leading truck maker.

The panel of outside lawyers also stated that the company misreported to the transport ministry in 2016 by saying it was not involved in data falsification.

Data on emissions were fabricated in 12 of the existing 14 engine models, according to the panel’s report. Of the 12, four models were found not to clear the standards.

The panel also said data tampering with fuel economy and emissions were found in engines that were no longer being manufactured.

The ministry inspected leading automakers to see if they were involved in any data falsification following revelations of Mitsubishi Motors Corp. faking fuel economy data in April that year.

Hino Motors reported during the inspection it was unaware of any wrongdoing.

But the company later acknowledged that data on four engine models made since autumn in 2016 was misstated.

The panel blamed the company for making insufficient checks on the development process and a disparity between the top management and workforce on the shop floor over where resources should be distributed. It said these factors contributed to data being falsified.

The panel, led by Kazuo Sakakibrara, former chief of the Osaka High Public Prosecutors Office, also said the company’s top-down climate was too strong to allow for easier communication between various levels of the corporate ladder.

It called for clearly defining the role of the department in charge of quality assurance and strengthening it to prevent data falsification from happening again.

Satoshi Ogiso, president of Hino Motors, submitted the panel’s report to the ministry on Aug. 2.

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