Toyoda's apology blasted by media
Source: Agencies |
February 7, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
JAPANESE media sharply criticized Toyota's president yesterday for what they called a delayed and unconvincing explanation for the massive car recall that has sullied the world's biggest auto maker, a Japanese corporate icon.
Akio Toyoda, the founder's grandson appointed to lead Toyota Motor Corp last June, emerged late Friday to apologize and address criticism the company mishandled a crisis over sticking gas pedals.
But he stopped short of ordering a recall for Toyota's iconic Prius hybrid over separate braking problems.
Toyoda's appearance before reporters at a company office in the central Japanese city of Nagoya made front pages of the country's leading newspapers - but won no praise.
"Words are not enough," the top Nikkei business daily commented in an editorial. "The company's crisis management ability is being subjected to severe scrutiny."
"Utterly too late," the nationwide Asahi newspaper said of Toyota's delayed reaction since the crisis arose January 21 with a global recall of millions of vehicles.
"The entire world is watching how Toyota can humbly learn from its series of recent failures and make safe cars," it said.
At his first news conference since the recall of 4.5 million cars, Toyoda promised to beef up quality control.
He said he would head a special committee to review quality checks, assess consumer complaints, and listen to outside experts for a fix.
Asked if he should have acted more quickly, Toyoda replied in hesitant English: "I will do my best."
Toyota's failure to stem its widening safety crisis has stunned American consumers and experts.
Akio Toyoda, the founder's grandson appointed to lead Toyota Motor Corp last June, emerged late Friday to apologize and address criticism the company mishandled a crisis over sticking gas pedals.
But he stopped short of ordering a recall for Toyota's iconic Prius hybrid over separate braking problems.
Toyoda's appearance before reporters at a company office in the central Japanese city of Nagoya made front pages of the country's leading newspapers - but won no praise.
"Words are not enough," the top Nikkei business daily commented in an editorial. "The company's crisis management ability is being subjected to severe scrutiny."
"Utterly too late," the nationwide Asahi newspaper said of Toyota's delayed reaction since the crisis arose January 21 with a global recall of millions of vehicles.
"The entire world is watching how Toyota can humbly learn from its series of recent failures and make safe cars," it said.
At his first news conference since the recall of 4.5 million cars, Toyoda promised to beef up quality control.
He said he would head a special committee to review quality checks, assess consumer complaints, and listen to outside experts for a fix.
Asked if he should have acted more quickly, Toyoda replied in hesitant English: "I will do my best."
Toyota's failure to stem its widening safety crisis has stunned American consumers and experts.
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