In an effort to restore confidence after a safety test controversy, the new president of Daihatsu announced that its parent company, Toyota, would be supervising its model certification moving forward.
Masahiro Inoue, who assumed leadership of Daihatsu in March, said Monday, Apr. 8, that Toyota would take on a leading position in many areas, such as product development and procurement.
Daihatsu Was the Subject of Allegations of Widespread Deception in Safety Tests
According to The Associated Press, allegations of extensive cheating on safety testing arose last year, prompting his predecessor at Daihatsu to retire. A third-party evaluation revealed that infractions, such as testing just one side of a vehicle rather than both, have persisted for many years.
A government order has temporarily suspended production at Daihatsu until the company conducts necessary testing and establishes measures to avoid another incident. Since then, output has picked up a little again.
Daihatsu off-road vehicles and compact "kei" automobiles are their specialties.
Inoue Apologizes and Pledges to Bring About Significant Change
The disclosure has cast doubt on the level of supervision at Toyota-owned Daihatsu, even though no serious accidents have been linked to the scandal.
Inoue has taken decisive steps to rectify the situation, including personal visits to factories, dealers, and suppliers to improve communication. While dealers have expressed concerns about consumer patience, Inoue has reiterated that safety is the top priority, even over market growth.
Inoue confessed that he had been dishonest to meet the high demand to deliver the products quickly. "All of Daihatsu, as one team, will work hard so people can feel our vehicles are safe. We are about to make a big change," he stated.
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