Report: Honda Slow to Lead on Takata Settlement

Carmaker customers of airbag supplier Takata Corp. are frustrated in their attempts to resolve the company’s future by the reluctance of Takata’s largest customer, Honda Motor Co., to lead the negotiations, sources tell Bloomberg News.

More than a dozen carmakers are recalling some 100 million Takata airbag inflators that could explode when triggered by a crash. The devices have been linked to 16 deaths—all but one involving a Honda vehicle—and at least 130 injuries.

Deciding Takata’s proportion of the liability for repairs, regulatory fines and legal costs remains unclear. One analysis figures Takata’s total assets equal about one-third the estimated 1.3 trillion yen ($13 billion) bill for repairs alone.

Five would-be investors have each offered as much as $2 billion to buy the company. But they have either demanded or indicated they would prefer that Takata go through bankruptcy, Bloomberg says.