Nissan has recalled all its vehicles sold in Japan between October 2014 and September 2017, totalling approximately 1.21 million vehicles, and placed a temporary halt on new car sales in its homeland.

According to Nissan, these cars "did not meet Japanese market requirements for final inspection" with "certain checks ... carried out by technicians not properly authorised to perform those duties under Nissan’s own processes".

Nissan discovered the fault in its inspection regime at the end of last week, and temporarily suspended sales in Japan.

On Monday it announced it would begin selling unsold and unregistered inventory beginning on October 3, with these vehicles passing through a re-inspection process at Nissan dealerships.

In its estimation there are around 34,000 Nissan-built vehicles, bearing its own badges and those of other car companies, awaiting re-inspection before going back on sale.

Above and below: Nissan Elgrand.

In a press conference attended by Reuters and other news agencies, Hiroto Saikawa, Nissan's CEO, said, "We must take the registration framework and procedures seriously, regardless of how busy we may be or how short-staffed we may be".