Toyota vows to reinforce quality control amid tougher U.S. probe+

TOKYO, Feb. 17 Kyodo -
Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda promised on Wednesday to take fresh
measures to reinforce quality control in erasing consumer concerns about
problems with Toyota vehicles, such as sudden acceleration, as U.S. authorities
stepped up their probe into the Japanese auto giant.
The head of the world's largest automaker admitted aggressive expansion is
partially behind its recent safety lapses, but denied accusations that the
company had attempted to cover up the problems that have led to a recent string
of global recalls.
''I ask that you understand that we have never covered up or run away (from
anything),'' Toyoda said in his third press conference this month.
Earlier on Tuesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration demanded
documents to determine whether Toyota had conducted the recalls ''in a timely
manner.'' If the U.S. auto safety agency determines that the company violated
regulations, it could face a penalty of up to $16.4 million.
On a U.S. congressional committee hearing to be held next week to address the
recalls, Toyoda said he will not testify, adding Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.
President Yoshimi Inaba would be the ''best person'' to appear while he focuses
on implementing measures to improve quality.
The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
is scheduled to hold a hearing next Wednesday. Toyoda indicated he may consider
attending other U.S. hearings if summoned, but said the date has not been set
for his planned visit to the United States.
As part of its latest efforts to rebuild its tarnished reputation, Toyota said
it has established a special committee for global quality, headed by the
president, which will hold its first meeting on March 30. Issues studied by the
committee will also be reviewed by external experts, it added.
The automaker will also install a brake override system in all newly produced
vehicles worldwide after the emergence in recent months of problems related to
sudden acceleration and brakes.
When a driver steps on both the accelerator and brake pedals, the system will
allow the brake function to kick in first, according to the automaker.
Toyota has faced growing scrutiny on possible defects in its electronic
throttle system, but the company said its testing has verified that the system
is not behind unintended acceleration.
Shinichi Sasaki, Toyota's executive vice president in charge of quality and
customer service operations, said the automaker will continue to investigate
and release its results for complaints over sudden acceleration.
The company has announced a recall for a total of around 8 million vehicles
around the world in connection with loose floor mats, faulty accelerator
pedals, and most recently involving brake problems with its best-selling Prius
and other hybrid models.
Adding to its woes, Sasaki admitted the company is aware of reported complaints
in the United States over electric power steering in its 2009-2010 Corolla
cars. NHTSA reportedly plans to carry out a preliminary investigation into the
matter and has received less than 100 complaints, he said.
Toyoda, the grandson of the company founder, has come under fire for remaining
largely out of sight since the company fell into its current safety crisis.
''I'm very sorry that my appearance was late,'' Toyoda said. ''But I was not
delaying the press conference in order to run away.''
Meanwhile, the company published full-page ads in local and national newspapers
across Japan on Wednesday apologizing for the recall of the four hybrid models.
The move is also aimed at notifying customers that they can now have their
luxury Lexus HS250h sedans and hybrid-only Sai compact sedans repaired,
starting Wednesday.
Toyota is already offering to repair the latest model of its Prius hybrid, but
the software to fix a glitch in the antilock brake system had not been
completed for the other hybrid models until this week.
The recall process for the Prius is going smoothly and the company expects
about 70 to 80 percent of the Prius repairs in Japan to be completed by the end
of February, Toyoda said during the news conference.
He added he still believes gas-electric hybrids will be the pillar of
next-generation cars, but admitted the speed of the company's expansion had
exceeded training of its personnel to maintain quality.
''The basis of Toyota's production system is only to build vehicles that can be
sold,'' Toyoda said, adding its recent growth in global sales has exceeded
actual demand. ''I regret that we ourselves have broken (that rule).''
==Kyodo