An executive for Takata Corp., the company that produced faulty air bags linked to the deaths of motorists, apologized at a U.S. Senate hearing as two lawmakers told of a sixth fatality they say is also related.
“We are deeply sorry and anguished about each of the reported instances in which a Takata air bag has not performed as designed and a driver or passenger has suffered personal injuries or death,” Hiroshi Shimizu, senior vice president in charge of global quality assurance, said in testimony Thursday to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
Takata acknowledges three deaths, and two others are still being investigated, Shimizu told senators. He didn’t address revelations of a sixth death.
Takata and at least 10 automakers, including Honda and BMW, are under pressure from Congress and regulators to expand and accelerate the recall of vehicles with faulty air bags.
Piecemeal recalls of almost 8 million cars over two years left drivers unsure about whether their air bags were prone to malfunction, and when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tried to inform the public last month, it issued a consumer advisory with erroneous information about the cars affected and directed people to an inoperable website.
Automakers need to provide rental cars for models that can’t be immediately fixed because of “the fear that grips the public,” said Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat.
About 6 percent of affected vehicles recalled by 10 carmakers have been repaired, according to Bloomberg News calculations based on figures provided to NHTSA. Honda and Toyota, which have called back the most cars, each disclosed lower remedy rates in letters on NHTSA’s website Thursday.
“We are currently producing more than 300,000 replacement kits per month and will be increasing those production levels beginning in January,” Shimizu said. He said production will reach as many as 450,000 parts a month starting in January.
