Japan may act on car recalls

The step reflects deepening concerns in Japan over Toyota's recall of more than eight million vehicles, most of them in overseas markets.

Kyodo News agency said yesterday that transport minister Seiji Maehara told Japanese MPs on Friday that he hoped to try to improve his agency's recall system to respond better to consumer interests.

The agency may require car makers to move more quickly to fix defects and may expand the types of problems subject to reporting requirements, according to the reports. The reports cited unnamed ministry officials.