Fiat Got Penalty

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles misinformed US auto safety controllers about recall announcements to the owners of Fiat cars.

A transportation secretary is engaged to monitor the recall of millions of Fiat Chrysler vehicles. 

Takata's air bag inflators can burst up into the passenger compartment. Such air bags led to eight deaths and they had to recall tens of millions of cars, including 4 million made by Fiat Chrysler.

Gordon Trowbridge, a spokesman for NHTSA, said Slater, head of Transportation Department, had disclosed his representation of Takata, but the safety administration and Fiat Chrysler considered it wasn't a problem.

"You can't have someone overlooking their recalls that also represents a company that makes defective parts," said Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety. "You can't have someone who has two masters, and Slater has two masters."

The reports show TK Holdings hired Squire Patton Boggs last December. Slater, co-leader of the firm's transportation. The firm is being paid nearly $1.3 million by TK since then.

The government hit Fiat Chrysler with a $105 million penalty because they didn't tell earlier to the customers about recalls, and didn't make recall repairs and other infractions.

http://repokar.com/blog-details/154/