Source: www.forbes.com

TOKYO - Mazda Motor Corp. said it will recall more than 260,000 cars in Japan due to a possible clutch defect.

The country's fifth largest automaker, which is one-third owned by Ford Motor of the United States, said passenger cars with the same trouble were also shipped to Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Brunei.

'But we don't know the number of the cars,' a Mazda spokeswoman said, adding that the company would decide on whether to exchange defective parts for free 'depending upon the regulations of each countries.'

In a report submitted to the transport ministry, Mazda said it would recall a total of 264,276 Demio and Verisa vehicles produced in Japan between June 2002 and March 2006.