The Director of Cyprus’ Road Transport Department (RTD) acknowledged significant gaps in the vehicle recall system during Monday’s hearing of the inquiry committee investigating faulty Takata airbags and vehicle imports.
George Louca, who became RTD director in July 2024, testified that despite various notification attempts, the “information chain cycle for imported vehicles has not closed and appears it will not close” without better cooperation from distributors.
The inquiry, which heard testimony from the mother of victim Kyriacos Oxinos, is examining Cyprus’ implementation of EU vehicle safety regulations, particularly regarding Takata airbags linked to deaths and injuries worldwide.
Approximately 59,000 vehicles still require airbag recalls, down from 83,000 initially identified. This figure includes 8,000 deregistered or immobilised vehicles.
When questioned whether the department had properly protected citizens, Louca admitted that “more could have been done” on public awareness. His predecessor attributed shortcomings to understaffing.
The RTD first requested information about Takata airbags in 2015-2016 after citizens reported international recalls affecting Honda and Toyota vehicles. In November 2022, the department began blocking technical inspections for vehicles with outstanding recalls.
Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades recently issued decrees clarifying recall procedures and reducing the implementation period for high-risk cases from 18 to eight months. Hundreds of vehicles have already been immobilised due to safety concerns.
The government is now considering a pre-approval mechanism for third-country imports to ensure compliance with European standards before vehicles reach Cyprus.
The Takata airbag defect, caused by a chemical component that can deteriorate in hot conditions, risks explosive deployment that could project metal fragments into vehicle cabins, potentially causing serious injury to occupants.
It is estimated that at least 27 deaths and hundreds of injuries worldwide have been attributed to the defective Takata airbags.
In Cyprus, at least three deaths have been linked to the faulty Takata airbags.
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