Japanese automaker Daihatsu to recall up to 320,000 vehicles amid safety scandal

TOKYO, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Japan's automaker Daihatsu Motor Co. on Wednesday said it plans to recall two mini-vehicles with a door defect.

The recall, which would potentially involve about 320,000 units, was announced a day after Japan's transport ministry instructed the company to consider recalling the Cast model sold under the Daihatsu brand and the Pixis Joy sold under the marque of its parent Toyota Motor Corp. following the scandal that the company had rigged safety tests for most of its models.

Last month, Daihatsu said the models may not meet safety standards as their doors could become locked and hard to open from the outside in the event of an accident.

The company, over the safety inspection scandal, was forced to stop all vehicle shipments at home and abroad but resumed operations in Indonesia and Malaysia after several days.

When the company can resume domestic production remains unknown with the outlook after the current suspension through January uncertain, the small-car maker was quoted by national news agency Kyodo as saying on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the transport ministry, which has been inspecting operations at Daihatsu, said it would revoke certifications necessary for mass production for three models built by the automaker, adding it found 14 cases of misconduct in addition to the ones already made public.