ID :
108445
Thu, 02/25/2010 - 07:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/108445
The shortlink copeid
Toyota defends electronic system, vows to build safer cars+
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 Kyodo -
The head of the U.S. sales unit of Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday the
carmaker's electronic throttle-control system is not behind the sudden
unintended acceleration problem and vowed to build safer products in a
testimony on the first of a series of U.S. congressional hearings on the
Japanese automaker.
''We are confident that no problems exist with the electronic throttle-control
system in our vehicles,'' Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. President Jim Lentz
said at a subcommittee of the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and
Commerce.
Lentz said, ''We fully intend to produce even safer, high quality vehicles in
the future.''
Toyota's electronic throttle-control system is seen as one of the focuses of
the hearings as some people suspect a malfunction in the system, probably
triggered by electromagnetic interference, caused the unintended acceleration.
But some panel members were not convinced by his explanation and criticized the
automaker's unwillingness to conduct a thorough study on the electronic control
system.
Lentz admitted mistakes in Toyota's response to complaints over problems with
its vehicles, while saying the remedies Toyota has developed to repair the
problems ''are both effective and durable.''
''It has taken us too long to come to grips with a rare but serious set of
safety issues,'' Lentz said. ''We acknowledge these mistakes, we apologize for
them and we have learned from them.''
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration will conduct a thorough review of Toyota's electronic
system.
''We are going to get into the weeds on the electronics,'' he said.
LaHood defended the government's role in ensuring the safety of American
drivers, saying the NHTSA acted promptly to urge Toyota to issue necessary
recalls to fix problems.
Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, a Democrat from California, said at the outset
of the hearing, ''Fundamental reforms are needed in Toyota's leadership.
Consumer complaints need to be taken seriously.''
The hearings pose a major challenge for the Japanese auto giant as it tries to
restore consumer confidence in the critical U.S. market, which has been
shattered by a spate of recalls of popular models worldwide over problems with
loose floor mats and accelerator pedals.
Toyota President Akio Toyoda will testify at the House Committee on Oversight
and Government Reform to be held Wednesday, with LaHood and Toyota Motor North
America Inc. President Yoshimi Inaba also attending.
According to a prepared testimony which became available Tuesday, Toyoda will
offer apology by expressing ''regret'' that the company's expansion-oriented
policy has resulted in massive safety recalls.
At the same time, Toyoda, the grandson of Toyota founder, will deny that the
automaker intended to cover up defects in its vehicles, the prepared testimony
showed.
Wednesday's hearing is widely expected to be tougher for the Japanese automaker
than Tuesday's as some lawmakers, such as ranking panel member Darrell Issa, a
Republican from California, are expected to grill Toyota executives.
Toyoda and LaHood are expected to hold talks later this week. Speculation is
rife that the meeting will take place Thursday.
At Tuesday's congressional panel, Rhonda Smith, a Tennessee resident who
experienced sudden unintended acceleration in the new Lexus ES350 model in
October 2006, sometimes tearfully, spoke of her terrifying experience with a
sudden acceleration problem.
As the vehicle uncontrollably accelerated and its speed reached about 160
kilometers per hour, she told the committee, ''I had the emergency brake on
while frantically shifting between all the gears but mainly had it in
reverse...I thought it was my time to die and called my husband.''
Later, she and her husband reported the accident to Toyota dealers and the
NHTSA but they ignored it. ''Shame on you, Toyota, for being so greedy and
shame on NHTSA for not doing your job,'' she said at the congressional hearing.
U.S. media are intensifying their coverage of the Toyota issue, pointing to the
possibility of defect coverups and slow response to complaints by American
drivers over safety concerns.
A series of recalls worldwide by Toyota has affected more than 8 million vehicles.
==Kyodo
The head of the U.S. sales unit of Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday the
carmaker's electronic throttle-control system is not behind the sudden
unintended acceleration problem and vowed to build safer products in a
testimony on the first of a series of U.S. congressional hearings on the
Japanese automaker.
''We are confident that no problems exist with the electronic throttle-control
system in our vehicles,'' Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. President Jim Lentz
said at a subcommittee of the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and
Commerce.
Lentz said, ''We fully intend to produce even safer, high quality vehicles in
the future.''
Toyota's electronic throttle-control system is seen as one of the focuses of
the hearings as some people suspect a malfunction in the system, probably
triggered by electromagnetic interference, caused the unintended acceleration.
But some panel members were not convinced by his explanation and criticized the
automaker's unwillingness to conduct a thorough study on the electronic control
system.
Lentz admitted mistakes in Toyota's response to complaints over problems with
its vehicles, while saying the remedies Toyota has developed to repair the
problems ''are both effective and durable.''
''It has taken us too long to come to grips with a rare but serious set of
safety issues,'' Lentz said. ''We acknowledge these mistakes, we apologize for
them and we have learned from them.''
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration will conduct a thorough review of Toyota's electronic
system.
''We are going to get into the weeds on the electronics,'' he said.
LaHood defended the government's role in ensuring the safety of American
drivers, saying the NHTSA acted promptly to urge Toyota to issue necessary
recalls to fix problems.
Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, a Democrat from California, said at the outset
of the hearing, ''Fundamental reforms are needed in Toyota's leadership.
Consumer complaints need to be taken seriously.''
The hearings pose a major challenge for the Japanese auto giant as it tries to
restore consumer confidence in the critical U.S. market, which has been
shattered by a spate of recalls of popular models worldwide over problems with
loose floor mats and accelerator pedals.
Toyota President Akio Toyoda will testify at the House Committee on Oversight
and Government Reform to be held Wednesday, with LaHood and Toyota Motor North
America Inc. President Yoshimi Inaba also attending.
According to a prepared testimony which became available Tuesday, Toyoda will
offer apology by expressing ''regret'' that the company's expansion-oriented
policy has resulted in massive safety recalls.
At the same time, Toyoda, the grandson of Toyota founder, will deny that the
automaker intended to cover up defects in its vehicles, the prepared testimony
showed.
Wednesday's hearing is widely expected to be tougher for the Japanese automaker
than Tuesday's as some lawmakers, such as ranking panel member Darrell Issa, a
Republican from California, are expected to grill Toyota executives.
Toyoda and LaHood are expected to hold talks later this week. Speculation is
rife that the meeting will take place Thursday.
At Tuesday's congressional panel, Rhonda Smith, a Tennessee resident who
experienced sudden unintended acceleration in the new Lexus ES350 model in
October 2006, sometimes tearfully, spoke of her terrifying experience with a
sudden acceleration problem.
As the vehicle uncontrollably accelerated and its speed reached about 160
kilometers per hour, she told the committee, ''I had the emergency brake on
while frantically shifting between all the gears but mainly had it in
reverse...I thought it was my time to die and called my husband.''
Later, she and her husband reported the accident to Toyota dealers and the
NHTSA but they ignored it. ''Shame on you, Toyota, for being so greedy and
shame on NHTSA for not doing your job,'' she said at the congressional hearing.
U.S. media are intensifying their coverage of the Toyota issue, pointing to the
possibility of defect coverups and slow response to complaints by American
drivers over safety concerns.
A series of recalls worldwide by Toyota has affected more than 8 million vehicles.
==Kyodo
