Air bag maker Takata has filed for bankruptcy protection in Japan and the US, overwhelmed by lawsuits and recall costs over defective air bag inflators linked to the deaths of at least 16 people.

General Motors recalled another 8.45 million more vehicles yesterday — surpassing the record for US safety fixes by an carmaker in a calendar year, as chief executive Mary Barra steps up efforts to shed GM’s reputation for foot-dragging on defective parts.