Nissan and scandal-hit Mitsubishi in talks on partnership

TOKYO (AP) — Scandal-plagued Mitsubishi Motors Corp. may have a suitor, Nissan Motor Co., headed by auto-industry turnaround guru Carlos Ghosn.

The Tokyo-based automaker, which makes the makes the Outlander sport-utility vehicle and the i-MiEV electric car, acknowledged last month that it had systematically falsified mileage data on its eK wagon and eK Space light passenger cars, which were produced for Nissan as the Nissan Dayz and Dayz Roox.

[...] Nissan, which makes the March subcompact, Infinti luxury models and Leaf electric car, would face a major challenge in repairing Mitsubishi's tarnished reputation and winning back consumer trust.

In the early 2000s, Mitsubishi disclosed a shocking scandal involving cover-ups of defects such as failing brakes, faulty clutches and fuel tanks prone to falling off, dating back to the 1970s.