Subaru admits improper checks on Japan cars

TOKYO: Subaru Corp said it had failed to follow proper inspection procedures for vehicles for the domestic market, an issue likely to result in a product recall and adding to a list of compliance problems at Japanese companies.

The automaker said for more than 30 years, final inspections of new vehicles at its main Gunma complex north of Tokyo were sometimes conducted by inspectors who were not listed as certified technicians, violating transport ministry requirements.

The automaker said it was therefore considering recalling about 255,000 vehicles including its Legacy, Forester and Impreza models produced at the complex and sold at home, at a cost of around five billion yen (US$43.86mil).

Chief executive officer Yasuyuki Yoshinaga said inspectors in training for certification to sign off final checks had been approving the checks under the names of their trainers, a process the automaker followed for over 30 years without realising it did not meet ministry requirements.

“The final inspection process is very important and we acknowledge that we did not meet requirements,” Yoshinaga said.

“It’s always been my goal to make this company good. This issue shows that we’re not there yet.” Subaru said it would report details of an internal investigation to the ministry on Monday, and that it needed to better communicate requirements to workers.

The revelation followed a similar oversight at Nissan Motor Co Ltd while Kobe Steel Ltd has been grappling with a data fabrication scandal. — Reuters