China parts maker Key Safety Systems said to be planning bid for Takata

Tokyo

KEY Safety Systems, the world's fourth largest air bag maker that was acquired by a Chinese parts maker, plans to bid for Japan's Takata Corp, which is seeking buyers to overcome record recalls, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Key Safety has received an invitation from Takata and will review the company's business operations to prepare for the bid, according to the source, who asked not to be identified because the matter is confidential. Key Safety, owned by China's Ningbo Joyson Electronic Corp, is pressing ahead even as an audit commissioned by Takata and Honda Motor Co found more evidence that the supplier manipulated air bag inflator testing data.