Honda CEO steps down amid airbag recall crisis

The automaker’s press release announcing Takanobu Ito’s departure doesn’t mention the reason for the shakeup.

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Last month, Honda promised “greater transparency” after the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration fined the automaker $70 million for reportedly failing to file more than 1,700 death and injury claims.

Monday, Honda announced that President and CEO Takanobu Ito would exit in June, but the company explained little about why.

Its press release about the executive shakeup simply explains that Honda’s board of directors met Monday and “decided on changes in its Operating Officers as of April 1, 2015 and its Directors as of June 2015.” Then it provides a list of changes, including the name of the new CEO, Takahiro Hachigo, an engineer. There isn’t a word about airbags made by Japan’s Takata Corp., which have the potential to explode and injure drivers and passengers, the fine, or recalls issued over the last few months.

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