Honda Motor Co is to recall an additional 20 million Takata Corp-made airbags internationally, a newspaper said yesterday, in a widening scandal that has led to the biggest auto recall in US history.
Tokyo-based auto parts giant Takata is struggling to deal with a defect that can send metal and plastic shrapnel from the inflator canister hurtling toward drivers and passengers when an airbag is deployed.
The defect has been blamed for grisly injuries that have in some cases proved fatal.
Honda, along with other automakers, has already been ordered by US authorities to recall all units that do not contain a desiccant that keeps explosives in airbags from deteriorating.
The Japanese automaker now plans to widen areas for the recall to Asia, Oceania, Latin America and Europe, which would force the firm to recall another 20 million airbags or more internationally, bringing the total number to more than 50 million, the Nikkei Shimbun said.
The additional cost is estimated at ¥200 billion (US$1.87 billion), the newspaper said, adding that the latest move by the biggest buyer of Takata air bags might prompt other automakers to follow suit.
On Wednesday last week, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ordered Takata to recall between 35 and 40 million more airbags installed in US cars.
That is on top of the 50 million already recalled internationally, making it by far the biggest auto recall in US history.
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