21/11/2017

Japan sets up checking task force

Reuters reports that a task force to inspect vehicles sold on the domestic market has been set up by Japan's transport ministry. The move follows revelations that Nissan and Subaru had used inspectors without proper certification to sign off final inspection procedures.

The practice of using unsuitable inspectors has carried on for 'decades' and has raised questions on the efficacy of the inspection process.

'We want to ensure more traceability and transparency in the final vehicle inspection process,' Kenichi Hayashi, deputy director of the ministry's type approval and recall division, said on Tuesday.

The task force will encompass eight officials from the transport ministry and Japan's automobile research institute along with university researchers, will examine how inspections are currently carried out and how they can ensure proper procedures are being followed.

In October, Nissan recalled 1.2 million vehicles in Japan after realising that uncertified inspectors had been signing off on vehicle checks for decades, citing a lack of unqualified staff for the problem.

Subaru is planning on recalling 400,000 vehicles in Japan after admitting that final inspections had sometimes been done by inspectors who were not listed as certified technicians. This practice had carried on for over 30 years.