Tokyo, June 10 (FN Agency) Japan’s transport ministry conducted an on-site inspection of Honda Motor Co.’s headquarters in Tokyo on Monday after the company and other automakers admitted to carrying out improper tests for vehicle certifications required for mass production, local media reported. After the inspections, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will decide whether to impose administrative punishments to prevent a recurrence and determine if recalls are required by examining whether the affected vehicles meet its safety and environmental performance standards, Kyodo News reported. Honda said vehicle tests for 22 models were improperly conducted, including the reporting of falsified data. None of its current models are affected, the report said.
Honda became the fourth company to be inspected under the road transport vehicle law following Toyota Motor Corp., Yamaha Motor Co. and Suzuki Motor Corp., a week after five automakers unveiled safety tests were not conducted in line with government specifications. A total of 38 models manufactured by the five automakers are affected. Six of the affected models produced by Toyota, Mazda and Yamaha Motor are currently on the market and the ministry has ordered shipments to be halted, the report said. The ministry will commence a probe into Mazda Motor Corp. soon, it added. The latest misconduct was disclosed after the transport ministry instructed 85 automakers and parts suppliers to investigate whether certifications were acquired properly, following a series of similar scandals that hit Toyota group firms in 2022 and later.