Takata president steps down amid ongoing crisis

Takata president Stefan Stocker has reportedly stepped aside amid the ongoing recall crisis.
Stocker — the supplier’s first non-Japanese president — will retain his position on the board, as the company’s grandson and current chairman, Shigehisa Takada, takes on the added responsibilities, according to Reuters.

Notably, most of the criticism so far has focused on Takada, not Stocker, after both executives spent months avoiding any public appearances as the defect debacle continued to grow.

The company currently faces federal investigations in the US, with former employees alleging a coverup that could lead to significant penalties if the claims prove accurate. Numerous lawsuits are also focused on the faulty airbags, which in some cases have exploded with enough force to send shrapnel flying through the vehicle cabin.

Recall campaigns from major automakers have already affected tens of millions of vehicles, with the possibility of further expanions as the investigations continue.