Toyota And Mazda Join Honda In Ending Takata Contracts – Mitsubishi, Nissan, And Subaru Likely To Follow

Embattled airbag manufacturer Takata has been dealt another blow as more manufacturers announce that they will no longer use the company's components.

Following an announcement by Honda stating that it would not be sourcing replacement airbag inflators from Takata, after a 50 year relationship with the company, Toyota and Mazda have each made similar announcements.

In a briefing on Friday, Toyota President Akio Toyoda said “The inflator using ammonium nitrate produced by Takata will not be adopted by Toyota. What’s most important above anything else is the safety and peace of mind of customers.”

Mazda has also announced that it will not be using Takata airbag inflators going forward. Nissan is reportedly close to making a similar announcement.

Subaru and Mitsubishi are also involved in internal discussions regarding the future use of Takata components, with both expected to announce a similar suspension of supply contracts in the near future.

Takata’s President, Shigehisa Takada, has acknowledged that the loss of airbag supply contracts places the company at significant risk. Automotive News reports that as much as 38 percent of the company’s income is derived from airbag products.

Takata airbags came under fire for using ammonium nitrate as a propellant, which overtime can cause the airbag housing to rupture as the airbag is deployed, causing potentially harmful fragments to separate and injure occupants.

Takata has been fined US$70 million for failing to issue a timely recall for the fault. Over 34 million cars around the world, from 12 different automakers are affected by the recall, making it the largest in history.

Takata will be required to phase out the use of ammonium nitrate in all future products.

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