Toyota has just received a new rectification order from the Japanese government following the discovery of irregularities on seven additional models due to safety issues.
Toyota, already mired in a fraudulent testing scandal, received a rectification order from the Japanese government this week, following the discovery of irregularities on seven additional vehicle models.
This new affair further tarnishes the image of the brand, once seen as a model of rigor and good governance.
The bad streak continues for Toyota
Of the seven new models in question, four are still in production, while six have been or are currently being sold abroad. Japan’s transport ministry said it has contacted relevant agencies in the affected countries to ensure the vehicles’ compliance and safety.
The rectification order requires Toyota to submit, within one month, a detailed plan of preventive measures to avoid future recurrences. In addition, the manufacturer will have to report on the implementation of these measures every quarter. The Japanese ministry’s decision follows an initial formal notice in June, when Toyota and four other major Japanese manufacturers (namely Honda, Suzuki, Mazda and Yamaha) were caught for similar fraud on certification tests.
This new case is causing a rise to fourteen the total number of Toyota models involved in fraudulent certification practicesLast June, Toyota had already acknowledged that seven of its models, including three still in production in Japan, had been tested using methods that did not comply with government standards.
Toyota apologizes and reassures its customers
The situation is also reminiscent of the case of Daihatsu, a subsidiary of Toyota, which had been forced to suspend all its production in Japan at the end of 2023 due to similar scandals, not resuming operations until May 2024.
In response to these new revelations, Toyota issued a statement expressing its regrets: “We deeply regret that we were unable to properly conduct our certification operations, and we apologize to our stakeholders for any concern or inconvenience this may have caused them.”
The manufacturer reaffirmed its commitment to implementing standards-compliant certification operations, clarifying responsibilities within the certification process, and continually improving its infrastructure.
The press release also aims to be reassuring for customers: “Customers do not need to stop using the vehicles immediately.”
Source: www.autoplus.fr
