Honda Motor To Stop Using Takata Inflaters In New Models

(RTTNews) - Honda Motor Co. (HMC) reportedly said it would no longer use Takata Corp. front driver or passenger air-bag inflaters in new vehicles under development, after alleging the supplier misrepresented and manipulated test data.

Earlier today, Auto regulators have fined Takata, the maker of millions of faulty airbags, up to $200 million for the seven deaths and hundreds of injuries caused by its airbags.

Of the $200 million fine, Takata will pay $70 million in cash and will have to pay an additional $130 million if it fails to meet its commitments or if additional violations of the Safety Act are discovered.

The penalty was imposed by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is the largest civil penalty in NHTSA's history for violations of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

NHTSA has asked Takata to prioritize recalls so the greatest safety risks are addressed first and set deadlines for future recalls of other Takata inflators that use a suspect propellant unless they are proved to be safe.

Takata has been ordered to phase out the manufacture and sale of inflators that use phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate propellant, which is believed to be a factor in explosive ruptures that have caused 7 deaths and nearly 100 injuries in the United States.