The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Kasumigaseki, Tokyo , in 2019. (©Sankei)
On June 3, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) disclosed that internal investigations uncovered safety certification irregularities for specific vehicle models. Five companies were implicated: Toyota Motor Corporation, Mazda, Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki.
The ministry ordered the suspension of shipments for the six current production models found to have discrepancies. On June 4, the ministry conducted onsite inspections at Toyota's headquarters in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, under the Road Transport Vehicle Act. Similar inspections will follow at the four other companies, and administrative penalties are under consideration.
Japanese Automakers Under Scrutiny
According to the ministry, Toyota exhibited certification irregularities in three of its current production models, including the Corolla Fielder. Mazda had irregularities in two models, while Yamaha Motor Company had one motorcycle model affected. Irregularities were also discovered in models previously manufactured by these three companies.
Ministry officials found irregularities exclusively in past production models of Honda and Suzuki vehicles. Internal investigations at Toyota are still ongoing.
In total, irregularities were found for 38 models of the five companies. "Such actions undermine user trust and critically challenge the integrity of the automobile certification system," the ministry stated at a press conference. "It is deeply regrettable."
Airbag Issues and More at Toyota and Mazda
At Toyota and Mazda, the investigative teams found issues with airbags. During deployment tests, airbags were programmed to activate based on a timer rather than activating automatically upon sensor-detected impact as mandated.
Falsified information was found on the test result documents for Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki models.
Repeated instances of misconduct involving Toyota Group's Daihatsu Motor Co and Toyoda Automatic Loom Works prompted the investigations.
As a result, the ministry instructed 85 companies, including vehicle and auto parts manufacturers, to conduct internal investigations. They were directed to report any irregularities found in their certification applications over the past decade. As of the end of May, 68 companies had responded, with no reports of irregularities among the other 63. Seventeen companies, including Toyota, are still conducting their investigations.
Toyota's Chairman, Akio Toyoda expressed his disappointment over the discovery of irregularities within Toyota itself following the Daihatsu incident. Addressing the media on June 3, he remarked, "It's unfortunate. Toyota is not immune to mistakes." The chairman pledged, "We will take responsibility and actively implement measures to prevent such incidents from recurring."
Implications for Japan's Auto Sector
In 2023, Toyota's Corolla Fielder sold approximately 13,000 units, and the Corolla Axio approximately 7,000 units. Meanwhile, the Yaris Cross sold over 100,000 units. Shipping and production have halted until the ministry confirms vehicle safety, affecting sales as well as related parts transactions.
Similarly, Mazda, which had irregularities in two current production models, addressed the issue in a press conference on June 3. President Masahiro Moro noted that Mazda has around 3,500 outstanding orders and apologized for the suspension of shipments. He expressed regret for any inconvenience caused to customers.
Daihatsu's certification irregularities led to the temporary shutdown of all its factories. This added to Japan's gross domestic product (GDP) decline for the January to March quarter, marking the second consecutive quarter of contraction.
If each company's shipments are suspended due to persistent irregularities, it could dampen consumer enthusiasm for buying new cars. Additionally, a decline in the credibility of the certification system could threaten Japan's economy.
Upholding Trust Through Rule Adherence
But why are there recurring instances of certification irregularities among domestic car manufacturers? Insights from these press conferences indicate a disconnect between certification rules and safety awareness within the vehicle development process.
From a technical perspective, there is a failure to fully comply with certification processes on the ground. This reflects a misalignment with safety priorities.
Also, sometimes the companies appear to interpret rules subjectively instead of strictly following them. This potentially reflects misprioritizing operational efficiency over regulatory compliance.
What Were the Irregularities?
In Toyota's case, the irregularity involved conducting pedestrian head and chest protection tests at a more stringent angle of 65 degrees. This exceeded the regulatory-mandated angle of 50 degrees, constituting a rule violation.
Mazda's irregular airbag testing during collisions employed a method to gather more precise data on passenger protection than the prescribed approach.
Chairman Toyoda acknowledged that "there is indeed a gap" in the certification process and safety considerations.
Even if tests are more rigorous than the national standards, disregarding regulations can erode trust in Japan's vehicle safety. Manufacturers need to reassess the importance of the certification system. They should also strive to bridge the gap in safety awareness, thereby enhancing the trust and quality of the system.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Noboru Ikeda, The Sankei Shimbun
