Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on Tuesday searched the headquarters of auto giant Toyota amid a deepening scandal over safety data fraud.
The world's largest automaker has apologized for providing inaccurate or manipulated data for safety certification tests.
The scandal has rocked Japan's auto industry, with rivals Honda, Mazda and Suzuki also admitting to submitting fraudulent data.
Toyota sold more than 11 million passenger vehicles in 2023.
The findings do not affect the safety of vehicles already on the roads, the company said.
The company has discontinued production of three models: the Corolla Fielder, Corolla Axio, and Yaris Cross.
The company has also been accused of using modified vehicles to perform crash-safety tests on vehicles that are no longer in production.
The raids came a day after Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda apologized to customers and car enthusiasts.
He bowed deeply and held the position for several seconds, a customary move in Japan when a company apologizes for wrongdoing.
“We neglected to go through certification procedures and mass-produced vehicles without taking appropriate preventative measures,” Toyoda said.
Japanese automakers Honda, Mazda and Suzuki also face inspections by authorities for similar issues.
Honda said it found irregularities in noise and engine power tests but stressed its vehicles were safe to drive.
Mazda said it would halt shipments of some vehicles and cover the costs for suppliers.
But the company added that it has no plans to issue a recall.
The findings also apply to Suzuki models no longer in production.
Earlier this year, Toyota urged owners of 50,000 older cars in the United States to get them repaired immediately. Takata airbag inflators could explode and cause fatal accidents.
The “do not drive” advisory was applied to some models of the world's largest automakers between 2003 and 2005.
