Cars and trucks from the 2008 model year or older that were originally sold or registered in high humidity areas along the US Gulf Coast are getting top priority for repairs as the government commences the massive Takata air bag inflator recall.
Honda Motor Co. Leads all automakers with nine models designated as having the highest risk from air bag inflators that can explode with too much force, spewing metal shrapnel into drivers and passengers. Fiat Chrysler was second with seven.
On November 3, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration took control of the recall, which covers 19.2 million vehicles and is the largest in US history.
The agency wants to speed up the pace of repairs and make sure that the limited supply of replacement parts gets to vehicles with the highest risk.
Even with government management, it could take as long as four years to replace all 23.4 million potentially faulty inflators that are now on US roads.
High-priority models were announced as part of an agreement with Takata Corp. Of Japan to pay up to a record USD 200 million penalty for deception in reporting problems and delays in fixing the inflators.
Cars and trucks from Honda and its Acura luxury brand date on the high-risk list date to the 2001 model year. Vehicles from 11 other car and truck makers also are on the list.
Takata inflators can blow apart a metal canister and spew shrapnel into drivers and passengers. Eight people worldwide have been killed by the inflators and more than 100 injured.
In addition to Honda and Fiat Chrysler, Toyota had five vehicles in the top group, and Ford, Mazda, Nissan and Subaru tied with three each. Daimler vans, Mitsubishi and General Motors each had two models, while BMW and Daimler Trucks had one each.
In documents, NHTSA said cars and trucks in the "Priority One" group also have driver's air bags that have been recalled, or both the driver and passenger inflators are faulty, the documents said.
"As hybrid technology is new for India so may be with this
model we can see some acceptance," Ueno said.
"This is a CBU (completely built unit) so the price point is on the higher side but may be we can understand the people preference or acceptance of hybrid vehicle," he added.
He said that gauging from the reaction to the model, the company might look at launching more of such products in the country.
"Honda is committed to environment so if we see some opportunities for hybrid technologies in India I think we can. We have some wider range of hybrid models so I think we can consider. The reaction to this model is very important," Ueno said.
The Accord Hybrid will have a combined output of 215 PS and return a fuel economy of 23.1 km per litre.
It comes with various features like advanced touch screen display, power adjustable front seat and electric sunroof.
It will come as a CBU and if received well, the company might look at assembling it in the country in the future.
Honda had earlier introduced Civic Hybrid in 2008 but did not achieve much success with the model.
