March 3, 2015—Auto parts manufacturer Takata said it plans on doubling its production of replacement airbags over the next six months in response to a global safety recall of its products, according to the Japan Times.
Takata has recently increased its production from 350,000 units per month to 450,000. Takata said it hopes that number to eventually hits 900,000.
Takata has been ordered by the NHTSA to pay a fine of $14,000 a day for as long as it fails to cooperate with a probe of its airbag system malfunctions—which are linked to at least five deaths in the wake of the recall. An estimated 20 million vehicles were said to be affected by the recall.
It is still largely unknown what caused the airbag malfunctions, but Takata, as well as 10 other automakers, have enlisted the help of third-party firms to get to the bottom of the issue.
