Takata Stresses Safety of Air Bag Inflators at U.S. Hearing

New York, June 2 (Jiji Press)--Japanese auto parts maker Takata Corp. <7312> stressed Tuesday that ammonium nitrate, used to inflate its air bags, is safe when properly controlled, denying allegations that the chemical substance has led to a series of air bag ruptures. "We are continuing to use ammonium nitrate in our propellants," Kevin Kennedy, Takata's executive vice president in North America, said in a hearing at a subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee. "I don't believe it is a dangerous substance to be used in air bag inflators," he said. Takata has agreed to a nationwide recall of 33.8 million air bags in the United States. At least six people have died due to ruptured Takata-made air bags in the country. Some experts have pointed out that the use of ammonium nitrate has made Takata's air bags more susceptible to ruptures under hot and humid conditions. Takata is the only major air bag manufacturer that uses ammonium nitrate as a propellant. Kennedy said that studies by Takata and from some leading experts "seem to indicate that ammonium nitrate is certainly a factor in the inflator ruptures." But he also stressed that there are "many, many other factors," citing manufacturing and vehicle-specific issues as potential causes. "We have not yet got to a definitive root cause," he said. Kennedy also noted that Takata "will continue to do everything" it can to complete the announced recalls, but did not give a specific deadline. END