The transport ministry on Tuesday ordered Hino Motors, Toyota's truck-making subsidiary, to recall about 20,900 trucks and buses over engine data falsification that goes back as far as 2003.

A special investigation committee comprised of outside experts said in a report submitted to the ministry the same day that the company had lied when asked by the ministry if there had been any malpractice in its 2016 emissions and fuel efficiency tests for engine certification.

The truck-maker released its own report in March saying it had submitted fraudulent emissions and fuel economy data to transport authorities since at least 2016, and suspended the shipment of vehicles with engines for which the figures had been altered.