Mitsubishi taps third party assessor to probe SUA cases involving Montero

THE POLICE called it a “self-accident,” but Saturday’s incident on Araneta Avenue in Quezon City can further stoke the controversy hounding the Mitsubishi Montero. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

TOKYO—Mitsubishi Motors Corp. of Japan has tapped its own third party assessor to investigate the cause of the alleged sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) incidents concerning one of its best selling models in the Philippines.

MMC chair and CEO Osamu Masuko said in a briefing here that the company had tapped Horiba Mira Ltd., an automotive engineering and development consultancy company headquartered in the United Kingdom, to conduct full vehicle tests on the Montero Sport model.

This was after complaints were filed last year before the Department of Trade and Industry by consumers seeking redress and accountability from local unit, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. Philippines.

Masuko said the tests would be conducted parallel to and separate from the planned full vehicle tests by the DTI, which has so far failed to secure the services of a third party laboratory for the  investigation.

“The investigation didn’t progress for some time so we asked Horiba Mira, a European company, to do the investigation. We signed the contract at end of May and by end of July, they said they will issue a report about their findings,” Masuko explained.

“This will be a separate testing. The progress of the investigation has been delayed and the DTI already had two biddings and both were not successful. We’re now waiting for another round of bidding but the [administration] is changing and that’s why MMC decided to conduct its own investigation,” added MMPC president Yoshiaki Kato.

According to Masuko, the Montero Sport was selling well not only in the Philippines but also within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, thus making it an important vehicle for the company.

“But it’s unfortunate that this had to happen to our customers and we’re very concerned. That’s why we would like to solve this problem very soon,” he added.

Company officials admitted that sales for the Montero Sport dropped at one point, but has since started to pick up.

MMPC first vice president Yosuke Nishi said Mitsubishi was optimistic that the Montero would regain the lead in its category by next year, given the continued rise in demand for the model.

From January to May this year, sales of the Montero reached 5,600 units. –Amy R. Remo