Honda Picks Takata Rival for Airbags

Honda Motor Co. has selected Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. to supply airbags for its next-generation CR-V crossover, Odyssey minivan and Accord sedan, sources tell Reuters.

The three models account for about half of Honda's unit sales in the U.S.

Honda's primary airbag supplier has been Takata Corp., whose faulty airbag inflators have prompted Honda and 10 other carmakers to recall some 24 million cars in the past six years. Takata has not yet identified the exactly flaw that can cause its inflators to explode when activated.

Reuters says Toyoda Gosei airbags will be installed in the CR-V and Odyssey due next year and the redesigned Accord sedan expected to debut in 2017.

The supplier will provide knee, side curtain and driver-side airbags for the Accord, according to Reuters. Last month Honda said it had signed a deal with airbag maker Autoliv Inc. to supply inflators to replace some of the Takata units it has recalled.