Toyota recalls vehicles in Japan, Europe for air bag defect

Tokyo: Toyota Motor Corp. Is recalling 1.6 million vehicles for defective air bags supplied by embattled Japanese manufacturer Takata Corp.

The Japanese automaker said Wednesday the recall includes 22 models sold in Japan, including the Corolla and Vitz.

It also affects vehicles in Italy, Britain and Spain.

Takata inflators can explode with too much force, spurting shrapnel. At least eight people have been killed worldwide and hundreds injured.

The problem has led to the recall of 19.2 million vehicles in the US, and government regulators are investigating.

No injuries were reported in Toyota vehicles related to the latest defect, but a person in a Nissan car was injured recently in Japan.