Toyota apologizes for cheating on vehicle tests, halts production of three models | Wilnesh News

Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda apologized on Monday for massive cheating in certification tests of seven models, and the automaker suspended production of three of them.

Widespread testing fraud by Japan’s top automaker involves the use of insufficient or outdated data in crash tests, as well as faulty testing of airbag inflation and rear seat damage in crashes. Engine power tests were also found to be fake.

Toyota Motor CorporationToyota Motor Corp., headquartered in Toyota City, central Japan, has suspended production of the Corolla Fielder, Corolla Axio and Yaris Cross in Japan. Deceptive testing has also been discovered on discontinued models.

The company said the misconduct did not affect the safety of vehicles already on the road, including the Corolla small car and Lexus luxury sedan.

“We sincerely apologize,” Toyoda told reporters. He bowed deeply and held the position for several seconds, as is customary in Japanese news conferences where companies apologize for inappropriate behavior.

The Japanese government’s investigation into Toyota began in January. The problem does not affect Toyota’s overseas production.

Also on Monday, Toyota’s Japanese rival Mazda Motor Corp. reported similar irregularities in certification testing and halted production of two models: the Roadster and the Mazda2. .

Mazda, based in the southwestern city of Hiroshima, also admitted crash test violations on three discontinued models. None of these violations affect the safety of the vehicle.

Stationed in Tokyo Honda Motor Company It also apologized on Monday for improper testing of a range of models, such as noise levels and torque tests. Honda said the affected older models – the Accord, Odyssey and Fit – are no longer in production. The statement said the safety of the vehicle was not affected.

Certification issues began two years ago at Toyota Group Corp., truck makers Hino Motors Corp. and Daihatsu Motor Co., which specialize in small models, and Toyota Industries Corp., which makes machinery and auto parts.

Shinji Miyamoto, Toyota’s top customer satisfaction executive, said Toyota began working on its own testing after problems arose at group companies.

The apparent breakdown in the testing system of Toyota and its group companies is an embarrassment for a carmaker that for decades has prided itself on production sophistication and a corporate culture based on empowering workers to build “better cars” .

Akio Toyoda, grandson of the company’s founder, said some certification rules may be too stringent, noting that such tests vary around the world. But he has repeatedly said he will not condone such violations.

“We are not a perfect company. But if we find any problems, we will take a step back and continue working to correct them,” Toyoda said.

He said the company may have been too eager to complete testing and streamlined it at a time when model variety was booming.

Toyota sells more than 10 million vehicles worldwide.