US regulators impose record $200-mn fine on Japanese airbag maker Takata

The US department of transport has slapped a penalty of up to $200 million on troubled Japanese airbag maker Takata for not providing complete information on airbags fitted on cars.

The fine is the biggest ever civil penalty imposed by the department's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for violating safety law.

So far eight deaths, seven in the US and one in Malaysia, and over 100 injuries have been linked to Takata's faulty airbags.

In a statement, transportation secretary Anthony Foxx said, ''For years, Takata has built and sold defective products, refused to acknowledge the defect, and failed to provide full information to NHTSA, its customers, or the public.''

''Today's actions represent aggressive use of NHTSA's authority to clean up these problems and protect public safety,'' he further stated.

Takata's defective inflator and propellant devices were found to explode and send metal fragments into the face and body of occupants, in case of a crash.

About 34 million vehicles are estimated to be affected in the US alone, and another 7 million in other countries.

The recalls involved car models of several brands including Honda, Dodge, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, BMW, Mazda, and Chevrolet among others covering a period of 2001-2011.

Of the total fine of $200 million, $70 million is a cash penalty with additional $130 million charge if Takata fails to meet its commitments.

The regulator wants Takata to phase out the manufacture and sale of risky inflators that use ammonium nitrate propellant and recall all defective inflators now on roads.

Takata has admitted that it was aware of a defect but failed to issue a timely recall.

''Takata provided NHTSA with selective, incomplete or inaccurate data dating back to at least 2009, and continuing through the agency's current investigation, and that Takata also provided its customers with selective, incomplete or inaccurate data,'' the statement said.

''Today, we are holding Takata responsible for its failures, and we are taking strong action to protect the traveling public,'' said NHTSA administrator Mark Rosekind.

The regulator will appoint an independent monitor to oversee Takata for the next five years and report the company's compliance with the order.

Meanwhile, Honda Motor Co, one of Takata's biggest customers, has dumped the company's airbag inflators saying that it will not use them in new car models.

Further to the Honda news, shares in Takata hit a 6-1/2 year low plunging 21 per cent to ¥936 on today's morning trade in Tokyo. The shares have fallen over a third in the past two days.