Daihatsu, the Japanese automaker owned by Toyota, has closed down its factories in Japan. This decision comes months after the automaker acknowledged falsifying safety tests on vehicles, as reported by The Associated Press (AP).
The shutdown follows Daihatsu Motor Co.’s recent announcement that it would halt all vehicle shipments, both domestically and internationally, after an independent investigation revealed issues with 64 vehicle models.
In the latest probe, the company said investigators found 174 new cases of irregularities in safety tests and other procedures in 25 test categories. This included evidence of tampering with safety tests, creating false information or fabricating test data, the company said.
The release of the probe’s details prompted Japan’s Transport Ministry to begin on-site inspections last week, according to multiple local media reports. These inspections are looking into issues that apparently have been present at the company for decades, with the first irregularity dating back to 1989.
Daihatsu has initiated the shutdown of some production lines starting Monday, and it ceased production at all four of its Japanese plants located in Shiga, Kyoto, and Oita prefectures, as well as at its headquarters in Osaka on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press (AP).
While the company did not specify when production would resume, a representative informed CNN that the shutdown is anticipated to continue at least through the end of January.
The Hill has reached out to Toyota for additional comments. the Japanese automaker
This recent development follows last week’s investigation findings and the ongoing inquiry conducted by Japan’s Transport Ministry, marking another setback for Daihatsu, which has encountered multiple challenges over the past year.
In April, Daihatsu publicly acknowledged violating standards for collision tests and procedures involving over 88,000 vehicles. The affected cars were predominantly sold under the Toyota brand in Thailand and Malaysia.
In May, Daihatsu revealed additional issues related to its side collision testing for two hybrid electric vehicles.
Last week, Toyota, which owns Daihatsu, issued an apology for the inconvenience and concern caused by the findings. The statement emphasized the significance of implementing reforms and moving forward with corrective actions.