Toyotas recalls 2.9m vehicles over airbags

Toyota is recalling an additional 2.9 million vehicles worldwide over potentially faulty airbag inflators made by Japanese supplier Takata.

Toyota's latest recall includes 750,000 vehicles in Japan, 650,000 in China, 350,000 in Europe and 1.16 million in other areas including Oceania, and Central and South America, Japan's largest car maker said in an email on Thursday.

The recall covers such models as the Auris, the RAV4, the Corolla Axio, the Corolla Fielder and the Noah or Voxy.

North American vehicles are exempt from the recall.

Takata's defective airbag inflators have forced car makers to recall about 100 million vehicles globally.

The airbags can potentially rupture explosively when deployed in a collision, spraying metal shrapnel at drivers as well as passengers.

At least 16 deaths and more than 150 injuries have been linked to the defect worldwide.