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New York - Toyota has paid a $16.4m fine for failing to swiftly notify the US government about vehicle defects, US regulators said on Tuesday.
The payment, confirmed by a Treasury spokesperson, will go into the "general fund" of the US Treasury Department.
Toyota had said in April it would pay the fine over its handling of gas pedal defects that caused sudden unintended acceleration blamed for more than 50 US deaths.
Toyota has made clear that although it was paying the fine, it was not admitting to any wrongdoing.
In the latest blow to the Japanese auto giant's reputation, Toyota said in Tokyo Wednesday that it would recall 11 500 Lexus vehicles worldwide due to a steering system defect. The firm has pulled around 10 million vehicles worldwide since late last year for safety issues.
Under US law, automakers must notify regulators within five days of any safety defects. According to the charges, Toyota effectively hid the acceleration problems for at least four months.
- AFP
