Japan’s Toyota promises vehicle testing improvements after major scandal

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota promised Friday to strengthen oversight of the certification of its vehicles to ensure that a scandal over improper testing that recently erupted is never repeated.

Japan’s largest carmaker detailed the measures it intends to take, including greater involvement of management staff, assigning more staff to certification-related tasks and clearly defining the responsibilities of certain positions, such as the chief engineer position.

The report was presented to the Japanese government, which fined Toyota last month.

Two months ago, Toyota Motor Corp. admitted to numerous test frauds, including using inadequate or outdated crash test data, improperly testing airbag inflation and checking engine output.

Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s chairman and grandson of the carmaker’s founder, apologized.

The offence does not affect the safety of vehicles already on the road, which include popular compact Corolla models and luxury Lexus cars, so their owners do not need to take any action.

But this was a great embarrassment for the manufacturer, which prided itself on enabling its employees to ensure quality control.

Toyota has suspended production of some models. Japanese media speculate that the scandal will reduce Toyota’s annual global production by about 500,000 vehicles. Toyota sells 11 million vehicles year around the world.

After the first revelation, Toyota found more frauds, including certification for pedestrian protection, side collisions and steering wheel impacts.

“There are many areas requiring improvement in the foundation of certification operations, such as the data management system and the establishment of regulations and procedures for certification operations,” Toyota said in a statement.

A Japanese government investigation into Toyota began in January. The issue has no impact on overseas production.

Similar fake tests have been detected at Japanese automakers Mazda Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., as well as Toyota Group manufacturers Hino Motors and Daihatsu Motor Co.

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Yuri Kageyama is on X: https://x.com/yurikageyama