Toyota CEO apologizes, puts blame on growth
Source: Agencies |
February 25, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AKIO Toyoda, leader of the beleaguered Toyota empire, apologized this morning (Beijing time) before a United States House of Representatives committee in Washington DC investigating fatal flaws that sparked the recall of 8.5 million vehicles.
Toyoda, the 53-year-old chief executive, said in prepared testimony that the company grew too fast to keep up with safety controls.
"We pursued growth over the speed at which we were able to develop our people and our organization," he said.
"I regret that this has resulted in the safety issues described in the recalls we face today, and I am deeply sorry for any accidents Toyota drivers have experienced."
He braced for tough questions from the US congressional panel after the Japanese automaker conceded it had let safety standards slip and could still not explain most incidents of unintended acceleration.
The pressure was set to increase after Japan's transport regulator said it would look into 38 reports of unintended acceleration with Toyota cars over three years.
The move marks the first official probe in Toyota's home market since safety-related recalls threatening its reputation for quality erupted in the US.
"The number of complaints about Toyota cars is not out of proportion to its share of the overall number of vehicles registered," Japan's Transport Minister Seiji Maehara said. "But given the ongoing issue, we would like to investigate Toyota cars."
The probe will also look at other automakers for the same complaint.
Toyota's safety issues have been blamed for at least five deaths and set off fierce criticism of both the company and US regulators.
The chairman of the US House committee investigating Toyota's massive recalls said the big number of complaints from drivers over sudden acceleration showed the firm and regulators "failed their customers" on safety.
Edolphus Towns, a Democrat and chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration failed to follow through aggressively on thousands of complaints.
"NHTSA failed the taxpayers and Toyota failed their customers," Towns said.
Despite Toyota's repeated apologies, US lawmakers have expressed skepticism over whether enough is being done by the company or federal regulators to protect millions of Toyota drivers.
Towns asked Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood a question on behalf all of those Toyota owners and drivers: Are the cars safe to drive?
Toyoda, the 53-year-old chief executive, said in prepared testimony that the company grew too fast to keep up with safety controls.
"We pursued growth over the speed at which we were able to develop our people and our organization," he said.
"I regret that this has resulted in the safety issues described in the recalls we face today, and I am deeply sorry for any accidents Toyota drivers have experienced."
He braced for tough questions from the US congressional panel after the Japanese automaker conceded it had let safety standards slip and could still not explain most incidents of unintended acceleration.
The pressure was set to increase after Japan's transport regulator said it would look into 38 reports of unintended acceleration with Toyota cars over three years.
The move marks the first official probe in Toyota's home market since safety-related recalls threatening its reputation for quality erupted in the US.
"The number of complaints about Toyota cars is not out of proportion to its share of the overall number of vehicles registered," Japan's Transport Minister Seiji Maehara said. "But given the ongoing issue, we would like to investigate Toyota cars."
The probe will also look at other automakers for the same complaint.
Toyota's safety issues have been blamed for at least five deaths and set off fierce criticism of both the company and US regulators.
The chairman of the US House committee investigating Toyota's massive recalls said the big number of complaints from drivers over sudden acceleration showed the firm and regulators "failed their customers" on safety.
Edolphus Towns, a Democrat and chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration failed to follow through aggressively on thousands of complaints.
"NHTSA failed the taxpayers and Toyota failed their customers," Towns said.
Despite Toyota's repeated apologies, US lawmakers have expressed skepticism over whether enough is being done by the company or federal regulators to protect millions of Toyota drivers.
Towns asked Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood a question on behalf all of those Toyota owners and drivers: Are the cars safe to drive?
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