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Former Honda CEOs Warn Honda’s Leader on Quality Crisis

Two former Honda Motor Co. CEOs have urged current CEO Takanobu Ito to take the company's quality issues more seriously.

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Two former Honda Motor Co. CEOs have urged current CEO Takanobu Ito to take the company's quality issues more seriously, according to Reuters, which cites three high-level sources.

The sources are part of a group of concerned former Honda executives. They believe Honda's reputation is being tarnished by the widening Takata airbag crisis and repeated recalls of the company's Fit small car, Vezel crossover vehicle and Super Cub motorbike.

Reuters' sources say a "stern" message was delivered to Ito earlier this year by Nobuhiko Kawamoto (CEO between 1990 and 1998) and Hiroyuki Yoshino (1998-2003).

The executives fret that Honda has been addressing recalls in isolation when it should be reviewing its policies and operations.

They opine that the company's quality problems may stem from a decision to pursue lower costs by buying more key components from vendors outside the company's closely connected keiretsu suppliers.

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