Honda president steps down amid airbag scandal

Honda Motor Co, the Japanese carmaker at the centre of an airbag defect scandal, says its president Takanobu Ito will step aside and be replaced by another Honda executive.

The unexpected decision follows massive recalls by Honda of vehicles equipped with airbags made by Japan’s Takata Corp. The airbags have inflators that can explode, expelling shards of metal and plastic. At least five deaths and dozens of injuries have been linked to the problem worldwide.

Takata airbags are used by many carmakers but Honda was the worst affected.