As Takata costs soar in airbag recall, files show early worries on financial toll

New York

THERE is the cold-eyed calculation of the costs of an airbag recall: US$100 each, translating to millions of dollars in expenses for Takata, the car parts supplier.

There are top executives involved in detailed discussions on how to handle the air bags that can rupture, sending shards of metal flying. There was even an e-mail exchange about rolling back safety testing at Takata - a proposal that was rejected - even as the recalls mounted.