TOKYO: A consortium of 10 automakers led by Toyota Motor Corp plans to hire an independent engineering firm and a former top United States (US) auto safety regulator to investigate Japanese airbag supplier Takata Corp.
Referring to itself as the joint initiative, a Toyota spokeswoman Julie Hamp said on its behalf that they want a forensic engineering firm "to address the technical issues with Takata airbag inflators."
With automakers having recalled more than 14 mil vehicles since 2008 due to faulty airbags, people familiar with the effort to seek clarity on the issue said that a former acting administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administriation (NHTSA) David Kelly would lead the probe.
Takata, while it “is also conducting extensive testing and has engaged top automotive engineers and scientists from around the world to assist in evaluating inflator ruptures and discovering the root cause of these issues has also agreed to support the joint initiative with its investigation.
The Japanese airbag supplier also named former US secretary of transportation Samuel Skinner, to head a "quality assurance panel" to review the company's policies and responsiveness to automakers and regulators.
Toyota invited other automakers earlier in the same month to join "a coordinated industry-wide joint initiative to independently test" Takata air bag inflators involved in the recalls.
News that the group was considering Kelly was reported Thursday by the Detroit News and the Wall Street Journal.
Toyota said the group's goal was to address issues related to the Takata inflators, which can rupture and spray shrapnel at vehicle occupants.
The defective inflators have been linked to at least six deaths, all in Honda cars, and dozens of injuries.
Honda Motor Co has been Takata's largest customer and is part of the joint initiative, along with General Motors, Ford, Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles, BMW AG, Nissan Motor Co, Mazda Motor Corp, Mitsubishi Motors Corp and Fuji Heavy Industries Inc's Subaru.
