Another 6,820 vehicles have been added to the list of recalls in connection with the defective Takata airbag, a senior official told parliament on Thursday.

Head of the Road Transport Department Giorgos Louka said these 6,820 were tracked via a recent alert through Rapex – the European Union’s rapid alert system for unsafe consumer products and consumer protection.

In addition, authorities got feedback from an analysis carried out by Volkswagen.

For these extra 6,820 vehicles, the eight-month period given for recalls will likewise apply as for the rest.

Related Articles

Louka described the recalls as a “dynamic, ongoing, rather than a horizontal process.”

He said that “large quantities” of replacement airbags are expected by the end of March. Meanwhile his department continues exerting pressure on companies linked to a small number of vehicles under recall.

In addition, space on the grounds of the former State Fair in Nicosia will be granted to Toyota. The space will be converted into a garage that will carry out replacements of airbags on vehicles imported from non-EU countries.

Briefing MPs on the trajectory of the transport minister’s decrees concerning the vehicle recalls, the official cited the latest data (as of February 3), according to which there were pending recalls for 69,516 vehicles out of the 81,060 initially tracked.

These numbers include 2,500 de-registered vehicles as well as 5,400 registered as immobilised. However, the department would retain these on the list, as some of them might re-enter circulation.

Responding to questions, Louka said the responsibility for storing and/or disposing of faulty airbags lies with the manufacturer.

Mazda and Toyota are the companies with the largest number of recalls.

Akel MP Yiannakis Gavriel asked a representative of the attorney-general’s office whether EU law permits car dealers to charge a fee for airbag replacements.

The representative of the attorney-general replied that EU law stipulates that the cost of recall lies with the manufacturer.

For his part, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades said the number of vehicles under recall is dropping.

“This is a live matter, on which we receive daily updates on anything relating to recalls from car dealerships. As far as we’re concerned, we are satisfied as there exists a spirit of cooperation between the ministry and the House transport committee, and we shall continue finding solutions to these problems.”

Takata airbags suffer a fault related to exposure to high levels of heat or humidity, meaning they tend to explode when released under such circumstances.

The explosion shoots the airbag’s metal inflator outwards and in the direction of the person it was designed to protect, potentially causing further injuries or, in some cases, death.

In Cyprus, the defective make of airbag has been linked to two deaths to date.