Japan to follow US lead on Takata issue

Tokyo

JAPAN will follow the United States in forcing carmakers to recall all vehicles containing potentially dangerous driver's-side air bags made by Takata Corp, Transportation Minister Akihiro Ohta announced on Friday, saying that the problem put Japan's carmaking reputation at risk along with drivers' safety.

An order from the ministry on the air bags would lead to the recall of an additional 200,000 vehicles in Japan, he said. About 2.6 million vehicles have already been recalled in Japan over Takata air bag problems so far, mostly to repair passenger-side units.