February 17, the Japanese Toyota Motor Corporation president Akio Toyoda, held a press conference in Tokyo speech. Japan's Toyota Motor Corporation president Akio Toyoda, Shinichi Sasaki, vice president of carrying the day again, night held a press conference in Tokyo on the issue of car Toyota recall progress and the companies to improve the quality of the management of a description, Toyota announced that following the new hybrid Akio Rui Pu Sri Lanka, the official recalled with immediate effect SAI and Lexus vehicles HS250h two problems.
, The largest U.S. auto insurance Shangzhou Farm Insurance 19, said it in February 2004 for the first time to the National Highway Traffic Safety regulators report Toyota have security weaknesses. This time than the previous released "alarm" time three years earlier.
Two alarm
State Farm earlier this month that it was as early as the second half of 2007 to the United States Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports Toyota have security weaknesses.
This 菲尔苏普莱 19, a spokesman for the insurance company said that by re-reviewing insurance records, the company found that the earliest warning of time earlier than this time.
February 10, in the city of Nagoya, Japan, Toyota's maintenance personnel to use special equipment to connect, "Prius" on-board computer, refresh the brake electronic control procedures. Toyota President Akio Toyoda 9, announced the recall in Japan hybrid version of "Prius" and so on, after 223,000 vehicles, Toyota started sales of stores in Japan, the country to provide the necessary repair services. AP Photo / Kyodo News
Souplet in an e-mail sent to news media wrote that the public's concern prompted Toyota re-examine the state farm insurance records and found that the company initially in February 2004 Contact safety regulators.
The U.S. Congress Energy and Commerce Committee February 9 asked the state farm insurance companies to provide consumers a sudden acceleration problems Toyota complaint information.
Toyota, the U.S. Congress plans to hold three security risks hearings, the first two scheduled for this month, held on 23 and 24. Of which 24-day hearing is particularly notable, because Japan's Toyota Motor Corporation president Akio Toyoda will attend.
Toyota departure
Japan's "Daily News" reported that Akio Toyota is scheduled to leave on the 20th to the United States, to attend the hearing.
Akio Toyoda, 53, took office in June last year, is Toyota the grandson of the founder Kiichiro Toyoda. Foreign media described him as "non-self-effacing," "do not love dealing with the media." He had said, that they are not prepared to participate in the hearing, provoke a criticism at home and abroad.
Japan's "Yomiuri Shimbun," 20, published an editorial, Toyoda, M need to be careful response to the hearing, because the U.S. mid-term elections will be held this year in Congress, a marked increase in protectionism in the atmosphere.
The editorial said: "If Toyoda, M In this case, response to the failure of Japanese products as a whole will be a heavy blow."
Some analysts and public relations experts believe that Toyoda, M should be at the hearing "clear, honest manner," to answer questions. Evasion and prevarication, the issue would further damage the reputation of Toyota.
They believe that Toyoda, M will face some hard questions.
U.S. Hill & Knowlton Public Relations Consultants Co., Ltd. in Japan, a consultant told the Reuters news agency, Toyoda, M may be received intensive training prior to practice how to answer questions during the hearing. Toyota Motor Corporation may employ lawyers to simulate the U.S. Congress to ask questions Akio Toyoda.
Reuters to Toyota employees as a news source reported that Toyota's Akio Toyoda has not yet decided the hearing would be speaking English or Japanese, but the company has contacted several translation companies.
Toyota, a number of senior management personnel Toyoda, M attended the hearing expressed concern about the results.
Japan's "Asahi Shimbun" quoted a senior executive as saying: "Whatever he (Toyoda, male) how to interpret, are doomed to bear the guilt."
GM has nothing to do
Toyota's U.S. automotive safety track approach to the issue raised about whether the United States would like to take this opportunity to support the U.S. auto industry speculation.
The U.S. government last year, shot to help General Motors Corporation and another one the U.S. car manufacturer Chrysler through the bankruptcy crisis, the result is one of the U.S. government holds a majority stake in GM and Chrysler nearly 10% of the shares.
United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood on the 19th that the U.S. government holds a majority stake in GM and the U.S. traffic safety regulators deal with the practice of Toyota's safety does not matter.
He said that speculation was "nonsense."
Lahoud said that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall the past 3 years, 23 million cars, "many of which are American-made cars."
He said: "If you need to recall a vehicle, or the need to investigate a car manufacturer, we will do so."
Lahoud to attend as a witness on the 24th at Congressional hearings. He Toyoda, will welcome men to participate in the hearing.