Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda issued an apology on Monday for the extensive cheating on certification tests involving seven vehicle models, leading to the suspension of production for three of them. The fraudulent testing at Japan's top automaker included the use of inadequate or outdated data in collision tests, incorrect testing of airbag inflation and rear-seat damage in crashes, as well as falsified engine power tests. The affected models include the Corolla Fielder, Corolla Axio, and Yaris Cross, along with some discontinued models.
Despite the deceptive practices, Toyota Motor Corp. assured that the safety of vehicles already on the roads, such as the Corolla subcompact and Lexus luxury vehicles, remains unaffected. The company suspended production of the mentioned models in Japan, emphasizing that the issue does not impact its overseas production.
In a similar development, Mazda Motor Corp., Toyota's Japanese rival, disclosed irregular certification testing and halted production of the Roadster and Mazda 2 models due to the use of incorrect engine control software in tests. Mazda also acknowledged violations in crash tests on three discontinued models, with no compromise to the vehicles' safety.
Honda Motor Co. also admitted to improper tests on noise levels and torque for older models like the Accord, Odyssey, and Fit, which are no longer in production. Honda reassured that the safety of these vehicles remains intact despite the certification discrepancies.
The certification issues first emerged at Toyota group companies, including Hino Motors, Daihatsu Motor Co., and Toyota Industries Corp., prompting Toyota to investigate its own testing procedures. The revelations have tarnished Toyota's reputation for production excellence and a corporate culture focused on continuous improvement.
Toyoda acknowledged the company's imperfections and emphasized the commitment to rectifying any wrongdoing. He suggested that the stringent certification rules might have contributed to the shortcuts taken in testing, especially as the range of models expanded. Toyota, known for selling over 10 million vehicles globally, is determined to address the lapses and uphold its standards moving forward.
