Mexican Media Brands
Japan Leads U.S. in Takata Airbag Inflator Replacements
About 70% of some 3 million vehicles recalled in Japan to replace faulty Takata Corp. airbag inflators have been repaired, according to The Nikkei.
#regulations
Share
About 70% of some 3 million vehicles recalled in Japan to replace faulty Takata Corp. airbag inflators have been repaired, according to The Nikkei.
That compares with about 12% of at least 17 million cars recalled in the U.S. for the same purpose.
The recalled Takata inflators may explode when activated in a crash, spraying metal fragments into the passenger compartment. The devices have been blamed for six fatalities, five of them in the U.S.
Observers attribute the widely different success rates to cultural differences. Japan has tougher inspection laws and consumers are more responsive to recalls. The country's used-car market also is smaller, making it easier for manufacturers to find owners of older vehicles.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Bill on Self-Driving Cars Stalls in Senate
Congressional efforts to make it easier to develop self-driving cars in the U.S. have stalled in the Senate despite strong bipartisan support.
-
U.S. in No Hurry to Regulate Autonomous Vehicles
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the emerging technology involved in self-driving cars is too new to be tightly regulated.
-
Study: How States Should Update Traffic Laws for Autonomous Cars
U.S. states should require that all automated cars have a licensed driver on board, suggests a study by the Governors Highway Safety Assn.