(Reuters) – Japan’s transport ministry is preparing action against a Toyota Motor Corp affiliate for cheating engine emissions tests, including possibly withdrawing certification for some engine types, Nikkei reported on Monday.
The ministry will order Toyota Industries, the world’s largest manufacturer of forklift trucks, to take steps to prevent a “recurrence of the misconduct”, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Toyota did not immediately respond to a Reuters’ request for comments.
Toyota Industries, which also makes cars, textiles and electronics, may lose certification for an excavator engine, the report said.
The ministry appears to be preparing similar action over two forklift engine models, it added.
“The regulator will weigh the severity of the misconduct before deciding whether to do the same for engines used in Land Cruiser vehicles and HiAce vans,” the report said.
The company reported to the ministry in January that it had engaged in misconduct that included tampering with performance test data for multiple forklift and automobile engine models, Nikkei added.
(This story has been corrected to say Toyota Motor’s affiliate, not one of its largest units, and corrects reference to Nikkei as a news agency, in paragraph 1)
(Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by David Evans and Mark Potter)