Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda apologized while doing the traditional low bow during a news conference held in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, June 3. This came after the carmaker admitted that seven Japanese vehicle models had faked certification and safety testing.
Toyota Chairman Bowed Low and Apologized
Toyoda bowed low and held the pose for many seconds as he told reporters, "We sincerely apologize." He continued by saying, "We are not a perfect company," and that when they see something is amiss, they will stand back and continue to work on fixing it, as reported by The Associated Press.
Toyoda had just acknowledged that the automaker had cheated on several safety and certification tests for seven of its car models marketed in Japan, with three still being manufactured: Corolla Fielder, Corolla Axio, and Yaris Cross. The firm had already ceased manufacturing these cars.
According to DW, the other four car models involved are the Crown, Isis, Sienta, and an older version of the luxury Lexus RX-all discontinued in 2014. The business admitted that its crash tests and other testing procedures had flaws, too.
While acknowledging that the vehicles did not undergo the required certification and testing processes, Toyota insisted that no performance flaws violated any laws or regulations.
Therefore, the manufacturer asserts that the vehicles would have passed all legally mandated inspections. "There is no need to stop using the affected vehicles," Toyota said in a statement.
The business reiterated its commitment to working with Japanese authorities and promised to take swift action.
Major Automakers Involved in Safety Test Fiasco
This latest development follows last year's incident with a safety test glitch at Toyota's Daihatsu division.
At the same time, Mazda revealed that certain vehicles had their crash testing rigged or that engine control software had been tampered with.
Additionally, Yamaha and Honda disclosed misconduct involving their models' testing processes.
Experts believe the government should take a harsher stance against the auto industry in light of the current scandal involving major automobile manufacturers to prevent it from happening again.
Join the Conversation