Takata stocks have plummeted from a thriving $30 per share down to $3.90 each.
Embattled Airbag Maker Takata Might See New Owner
For the past few years, barely a week goes by without adding to the list of vehicles with recalled Takata airbags. Under the potentially crippling financial strain, Takata might actually be snatched up by Ningbo Joyson.
Ningbo Joyson is a leading electronics supplier in China that just cleared a merger with Key Safety Systems Inc., another manufacturer of airbags and other passive and active safety systems. The ink on the contract has barely dried and Ningbo Joyson is back in the fray, setting their sights on Takata while they are weakened.
Takata Corp. was once, and presumably still is, the leading manufacturer and supplier of restraint systems in the automotive market. In recent years, 13 deaths and more than 100 injuries have occurred worldwide due to a flaw in their airbag design.
Takata airbags have been proven to produce shrapnel when deployed under certain conditions. That shrapnel, along with the explosive charge in the airbag, propels the shards into the vehicle occupant’s face and causes lacerations, injuries, and even death in some instances.
Beaten down by a potential $24 billion USD in fines, repairs, and penalties, Takata stocks have plummeted from a thriving $30 per share down to $3.90 each. Under such pressure, Takata has to buckle down its finances to remain liquid enough to tackle the $24 billion in costs or succumb to a merger by another corporation. In this case, it’s Ningbo Joyson.
Should the merger go through, the real winner in the deal will be Key Safety Systems Inc. who announced their intentions to develop airbag systems just last year. They would certainly benefit from a partnership with Takata, and Ningbo Joyson would reap the rewards regardless of the Takata recall outcome.
Models affected by the Takata airbag recall throughout the years include:
- Acura TL, MDX, RL, RDX, TSX, ZDX, and ILX
- Audi A3, A4, A5, A6, and Q5
- BMW 3-series, 5-series, X3, X5, and M-series
- Buick Lacrosse
- Cadillac Escalade, XTS
- Chrysler 300, Crossfire, and Aspen
- Dodge Ram, Charger, Magnum, Durango, Dakota, Challenger
- Ferrari California and 458 Italia
- Ford Ranger, GT, Mustang, Fusion, and Edge
- GMC Sierra, Terrain
- Hondas of virtually every kind
- Infiniti I30/I35, QX4, FX34/FX45, M35/M45
- Jaguar XF
- Jeep Wrangler
- Land Rover Range Rover
- Lexus SC430, IS, ES, GX
- Lincoln Zephyr, MKZ, and MKX
- Mazda6, RX8, MPV, B-Series, CX-7 and CX-9
- Mercedes Benz C-Class, SLK-Class, Sprinter, GL-Class, M-Class, R-Class, E-Class, and GLK-Class
- Mercury Milan
- Mitsubishi Lancer, Evolution, and Raider
- Nissan Maxima, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Versa
- Pontiac Vibe
- Scion xB
- Subaru Legacy, Outback, Impreza, Baja, Tribeca, and Forester
- Toyota Sequoia, Corolla, Tundra, RAV4, Yaris, 4Runner, and Sienna
- Volkswagen Passat, CC, Jetta, Golf, Eos, and Tiguan.
Are you unsure if the Takata recall applies to your vehicle? Check on the NHTSA recall website or contact your manufacturer’s customer assistance hotline.
