TOKYO (AP) – Honda Motor Co., the Japanese automaker at the center of an air-bag defect scandal, said Monday its president Takanobu Ito will step aside and be replaced by another Honda executive.
The unexpected decision follows massive recalls by Honda of vehicles equipped with air bags made by Japan’s Takata Corp. The airbags have inflators that can explode, expelling shards of metal and plastic. At least five deaths and dozens of injuries have been linked to the problem worldwide.
Takata airbags are used by many automakers but Honda was the worst affected.
Tokyo-based Honda said in a statement that another Honda executive, Takahiro Hachigo, will succeed Ito, who will remain on the board as an adviser. The announcement did not mention the problems with the airbags and came amid a slew of other managerial changes.
All the new appointments are subject to board approval at the company’s annual shareholders meeting in June.