Vice Transport Minister Masahiko Kurono on Oct. 23 expressed regret over the failure of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. to report a large auto recall to the ministry.The ministry's penalty could be strict in view of the 1.47 million units subject to the recall, Kurono suggested. "I believe that the recall system (with mandatory notification to the ministry) is an excellent system based on a trustful relationship among us, the makers and consumers," Kurono told a regular press conference. "It is regrettable that this (incident) may hurt the relationship."