FILE PHOTO: A woman stands next to a logo of Takata Corp at a showroom for vehicles in Tokyo, Japan, November 6, 2015. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African competition watchdog charged Takata Corp with price fixing on Wednesday, another blow to the Japanese auto safety products maker in the throes of a massive airbag scandal.

The Competition Commission said Takata worked with other firms to fix prices, divide the market and collude in their bidding for four different seat belts and airbags contracts with as three auto makers.

There was no one immediately available comment at Takata South African office.

The case, which has been referred to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution, comes almost a year after Takata launched a recall of about 125 million vehicles worldwide due to faulty airbags.

The Commission said the alleged violation of competition rules took place between 2007 and 2008. The contracts were with Honda, Toyota and BMW.