Toyota Apologizes for Cheating on Government Safety Tests, Halts Production of Three Models

By Dabbie Davis

Jun 03, 2024 10:46 PM EDT

TOYOTA YARIS PARKED ON THE ROAD
(Photo : PEXELS/Grégory Costa )

In a public statement on Monday, Toyota apologizes for cheating through its Chairman Akio Toyoda. He formally apologized for the misconduct surrounding the certification tests, acknowledging the need for accountability and transparency in rectifying the situation.

Toyota Apologizes for Cheating on Certification Tests

On Monday, Toyota Motor Corporation acknowledged engaging in deceptive practices on multiple certification and safety assessments for seven car models marketed in Japan, with three of these vehicles currently being manufactured. Chairman Akio Toyoda, during a press briefing held in Tokyo, expressed regret for the situation, accompanying his apology with a traditional respectful bow.

As per Live Mint's article, Toyota's Chairman, Akio Toyoda, officially apologized on Monday after reports surfaced about widespread deception in certification tests for seven vehicle models. The car manufacturer, headquartered in Toyota City, Japan, disclosed the temporary halt in production for three impacted models - the Corolla Fielder, Corolla Axio, and Yaris Cross, as stated by PTI.

Furthermore, it has been reported that the wrongdoing unearthed at Japan's premier car manufacturer encompassed a variety of concerns. These included the utilization of insufficient or obsolete data in collision examinations, improper protocols for testing airbag deployment and rear-seat impact during accidents, as well as manipulation of emissions evaluations.

These discrepancies were also observed in vehicles that had previously been taken out of production. During the press briefing Toyota apologizes for cheating on government safety tests. Toyoda exhibited a profound bow while conveying genuine remorse for the company's conduct.

In January, the Japanese government launched a probe into Toyota, revealing these recent concerns, which are isolated to the company's domestic manufacturing and do not impact its international production facilities.

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Toyota Cheating Incidents

The Associated Press has provided insights into Toyota's recent situation. The comprehensive fraudulent testing at the primary Japanese automaker included the utilization of insufficient or outmoded data in collision assessments, as well as inaccurate evaluations of airbag deployment and rear-seat impact in accidents. Additionally, there were discovered falsifications in engine power tests.

According to information from Seeking Alpha, Toyota (TM) has halted the production of the Corolla Axio, Fielder, and the Yaris Cross. This marks the second instance this year where the automaker has been discovered to have manipulated certification examinations.

At the beginning of the year, CEO Koji Sato publicly apologized for falsifying certification documentation related to engines that failed to meet regulatory requirements. Additionally, in 2023, a whistleblower raised concerns about omitted testing at Toyota's subsidiary, Daihatsu Motor.

Moreover, the company stated that the misconduct does not impact the safety of the vehicles currently in circulation, such as the Corolla subcompact and Lexus luxury automobiles. As Toyota apologizes for cheating, its chairman expressed sincere apologies to the reporters, bowing deeply and maintaining the gesture for several seconds.

Such act is customary in Japan during news conferences where companies apologize for misbehavior. This was not the first time for Toyota. Issues with certifications began to emerge approximately two years ago within Toyota's affiliated firms.

These firms include Hino Motors and Daihatsu Motor Co., known for their focus on compact models, as well as Toyota Industries Corp., a manufacturer of machinery and automotive components.

Shinji Miyamoto, a Toyota executive responsible for customer satisfaction, mentioned that Toyota initiated an internal examination of its testing procedures subsequent to the challenges identified at these associated companies.

As Toyota apologizes for cheating on government testing, Toyoda remarked they are not a flawless organization. However, if they identify any shortcomings, they will pause and persist in rectifying them. He mentioned that the company might have been overly eager to complete the tests and condensed them during a period of expanding model ranges.

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