Japanese auto parts maker Takata pleaded guilty to a criminal charge and agreed to pay a $1 billion penalty for concealing a deadly defect in its airbag inflators. A court filing alleges that five major carmakers—Honda, Toyota, Ford, Nissan, and BMW—knew the airbags were dangerous but continued using them to save money. This accusation is part of numerous lawsuits against both Takata and the automakers, challenging the car companies’ assertion that they were also deceived. The faulty inflators are blamed for at least 16 deaths and over 180 injuries worldwide due to their potential to explode and propel shrapnel.
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Originally published by CBS News | Feb 27, 2017
