Quantcast
Channel: New and Used Car Reviews, Comparisons and News | Driving
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 21675

Takata won’t set up a compensation fund for airbag victims

$
0
0

Takata, the Japanese parts supplier at the center of a global safety crisis, rejected a U.S. Senator’s request to set up a fund that would compensate people injured or killed by its air bags.

The auto supplier notified U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal of its decision after the Connecticut Democrat called for a fund similar to what General Motors Co. established last year for people killed or injured by defective ignition switches. Takata has said its air bags have killed eight and injured about 130 people.

“While we do not believe establishing a general compensation fund is warranted at this time, we will continue to assess our position as we focus on how best to address the needs of individuals affected by an inflator rupture,” Takata said in an e-mailed statement.

The decision risks opening Takata up to more criticism by U.S. legislators who have held four hearings in the past eight months to grill the company over faulty air bags behind the auto industry’s biggest recall in history. The defective devices, which can rupture during deployment, continue to take a toll on customers such as Honda Motor Co., which expanded its recalls on Thursday to 24.5 million vehicles.

Takata, automakers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are still investigating the root cause that explains why the airbag inflators are prone to break apart, spraying metal and plastic components at occupants. A Senate report released before Takata’s latest U.S. hearing found that the company’s employees knew of serious safety and quality control issues as early as 2001.

Honda recall

After Thursday’s recall, Honda has now recalled more vehicles in each of the past three months than it sold all of last fiscal year.

The carmaker, which owns 1.2 per cent of Takata, is also increasingly recalling newer vehicles. While previous campaigns affected cars as far back as the 2001 model year, Thursday’s recall involved vehicles made as recently as the 2011 model year.

Takata said in its letter to Blumenthal that the fund set up by GM provided benefits to victims who otherwise may have been unable to get them due to GM’s 2009 bankruptcy. The U.S. automaker had legal immunity from lawsuits related to accidents that occurred before the reorganization.

“We intend to give your suggestion further study, and we will let you know if our thinking on this subject changes,” Kevin Kennedy, Takata executive vice president for North America, wrote in the letter, a copy of which was provided by Blumenthal’s representative. “As we review our options, we would be happy to confer with you and your staff to ensure that we take full account of your views and considerations regarding public safety.”

The New York Times reported on the letter sent by Takata earlier Thursday.


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 21675

Trending Articles