Uncooperative Airbag Maker Fined By U.S. Government

(RTTNews) - U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on Friday announced a $14,000 per day fine against Japanese airbag manufacturer Takata Corp. for failing to fully cooperate with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's ongoing probe into the company's defective airbags.

Secretary Foxx made the announcement at the first stop on the last day of the Secretary's GROW AMERICA Express bus tour, highlighting the importance of investing in America's infrastructure and encouraging Congress to act on a long-term transportation bill.

"Safety is a shared responsibility and Takata's failure to fully cooperate with our investigation is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," said Secretary Foxx. "For each day that Takata fails to fully cooperate with our demands, we will hit them with another fine. But, it's not enough. I am asking Congress to pass the GROW AMERICA Act which would provide the tools and resources needed to change the culture of safety for bad actors like Takata."

Late last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued two special orders to Takata asking the company to provide documentation and other material relating to the agency's ongoing probe.

The action came as 10 automakers in the U.S. recalled hundreds of thousands of cars equipped with potentially faulty air bags manufactured by Takata. The airbags, which can inflate explosively, tearing loose from their mountings and blowing shrapnel into occupants. At least six people have been killed and 64 injured worldwide due to problem.

Takata has not fully cooperated with the investigation, the NHTSA have alleged.

Takata, founded in 1933, started making airbags in 1988 and, currently holds 20% of the world airbag market.