Japan’s transport ministry on Tuesday warned Isuzu Motors about public road tests of vehicles that the automaker conducted in Japan without taking legal mandatory procedures, ministry officials told Kyodo News.

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The officials reportedly said the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport reportedly found that Isuzu failed to undertake mandatory procedures for eight of 27 vehicles subjected to public road tests since 2000.


The finding came after ministry officials inspected an Isuzu plant in response to a complaint filed by an Isuzu whistle-blower, they told the news agency.


The report said automakers are required by law to undertake certain procedures, including changes in vehicle inspection certificates, for public road tests of vehicles powered by new engines – violators of the requirement may be fined up to 300,000 yen.


Kyodo News said the ministry is looking into whether the automaker failed to take such procedures for 280 vehicles used for road tests before 2000.

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