Toyota chief asks employees, dealers for help in restoring trust+

NAGOYA, March 5 Kyodo -
Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda on Friday appealed to employees,
dealers and auto parts makers for their cooperation in regaining customer trust
in the automaker, which has been battered by a series of global recalls.

Toyoda sought their cooperation during an urgently convened gathering at the
automaker's head office in Aichi Prefecture that was attended by around 2,000
people including company employees, dealership executives and representatives
of business partners.
''We have many problems to overcome but we can certainly get over the difficult
situation,'' Toyoda said, choking up.
''Let's join hands and work on regaining customer confidence,'' he said in a
speech, which was relayed live via video link to about 7,000 employees.
It was the first meeting with business partners and workers over the recalls
organized by Toyota in Japan as the embattled automaker looks to deepen
solidarity among group firms to stem the fallout from its quality lapses.
''All possible measures have been demanded of us at this critical moment, but
let's win back Toyota's real image and open the way to a bright future,'' a
representative of a Toyota dealer said.
Also attending the meeting were Yoshimi Inaba, president of Toyota Motor North
America Inc., and Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.
Toyoda visited the United States in late February to attend a hearing of a
House of Representatives committee and went on to China to hold a press
conference on the recalls before returning to Japan on Tuesday.
Separately, Toyota officials said the company will extend the hiring period of
seasonal employees recruited last October for three months to meet brisk demand
for fuel-efficient models including its gas-electric hybrids.
The contracts can normally be extended for up to six months but the latest
measure has been limited to three months due to the uncertain market outlook in
the wake of the global recalls over loose floor mats, faulty gas pedals and
brake problems, the officials said.
Around 1,000 seasonal workers whose contracts are due to expire by the end of
April will be eligible to apply for the extension. The company will decide
about the termination of contracts due to expire in May and thereafter
depending on market conditions.
Toyota stopped hiring seasonal workers from the end of June 2008 amid a deep
slump in the global auto industry, but it resumed hiring such workers from last
October as sales of eco-friendly cars increased on the back of government
stimulus measures worldwide. It had hired a total of around 1,600 seasonal
employees by around November.
Meanwhile, a U.S. safety regulator said Thursday it has received complaints
from more than 60 drivers of Toyota vehicles who claim they have experienced
sudden unintended acceleration after taking their vehicles in for recalls or
voluntary repairs.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it had received 10 such
complaints on Wednesday alone.
The NHTSA asked the automaker to notify it of all the customer complaints
Toyota receives.
In China, Toyota started a sales promotion campaign Friday at about 550 outlets
as customer traffic has slowed due to the recalls.
In the campaign, Toyota will present gasoline coupons worth 88 yuan (about
1,100 yen) to each customer who test-drives a Toyota vehicle. It will also pay
auto insurance premiums for one year for those who purchase Toyota cars.
==Kyodo
2010-03-05 23:01:28