Transport authorities have inspected Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s head office in Tokyo and some of its dealers on suspicion it concealed documents regarding complaints from users at the time of a regular inspection, Transport Ministry officials said Tuesday.

The authorities carried out the special inspection early this month, after receiving an anonymous phone call in June claiming Mitsubishi Motors had not submitted some documents at the time of a regular inspection in November.

The ministry inspects all automakers once a year to check whether complaints are being addressed properly.

During the inspection, the authorities had Mitsubishi Motors submit the documents in question, which had apparently been placed in employees' lockers.

The documents include some regarding complaints from users that could have merited recalls for free repairs, they added.

The ministry believes Mitsubishi Motors may have broken the law on vehicles by concealing the documents.

Honda to supply GM

Honda Motor Co. said Tuesday that it has signed an agreement with General Motors Corp. to supply the U.S. automaker with V6 engines and automatic transmissions.

Honda said in a statement that it will develop and supply GM with 90,000 power units annually for a five-year period beginning in the fall of 2003.

Those units will include an automatic transmission and a high power V6 engine with reduced harmful emissions, which will meet California's Ultra Low Emission Vehicle standard, it said.

The deal is part of an agreement struck in December between Honda and GM on technological cooperation.

Also as part of the agreement, Honda and OnStar, a 100 percent-owned subsidiary of GM, will offer OnStar mobile communication services in Honda and Acura vehicles, starting with the 2002 Acura RL luxury sedan sold in the United States.

Honda and GM have not agreed on any capital alliance and the companies will continue to work independently on technological development, the statement said.

Joint venture in U.S.

Isuzu Motors Ltd. announced Tuesday that its joint venture with General Motors Corp., DMAX Ltd., has started production of a 6.6-liter V8 diesel engine developed by Isuzu at a plant in Moraine, Ohio.

DMAX Ltd. will produce 200,000 units of the engine annually by 2004, Isuzu said.

Established in September 1998, DMAX is owned 60 percent by Isuzu Motors America Inc. and 40 percent by GM. Isuzu is owned 49 percent by GM.