THE biggest private employer in the North-East was defending its reputation yesterday as it risked being dragged into a potentially damaging row.

Nissan has denied claims that some of its Sunderland-built Qashqai cars were fitted with devices to cheat emissions tests, following South Korean claims it manipulated readings.

Bosses at the carmaker, which employs almost 7,000 people at its North-East factory, insisted they have complied with regulations, citing recent tests by authorities in Europe that concluded Nissan vehicles met industry standards.

The Japanese car firm will be very keen to nip these allegations in the bud.

The public’s faith in car manufacturers took a severe dent last year after Volkswagen admitted it installed software that allows cars to cheat in emissions tests, making them appear cleaner than they actually were.

That scandal cost the German firm billions of euro and left car buyers to wonder if they could trust any manufacturer’s claim about their green credentials.

Mitsubishi Motors has admitted rigging data on some of its models’ fuel efficiency, Peugeot has been raided by anti-fraud officials as part of ongoing investigations on pollutants, and Daimler has begun an internal investigation into its diesel emissions testing.

A recent report by the University of Edinburgh suggested that even electric vehicles – widely regarded as paragons of green motoring – emit as many, if not more, atmospheric toxins than fossil fuel-burning vehicles.

What has become clear is that the new diesel testing regime, due to start next year, cannot come soon enough if the motor industry has any hope of cleaning up its reputation and regaining credibility in the eyes of motorists.