Fri. Nov 8th, 2024
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Some of the world’s biggest auto manufacturers have admitted incorrectly handling safety testing on several vehicles over the past decade.

Japan’s transport ministry found Toyota, Honda, Mazda and Yamaha submitted incorrect or manipulated safety test data when they applied for certification of some vehicles.

The government has forced the companies to halt shipments of some vehicles as a result.

The latest revelations came after the ministry requested automakers investigate certification applications following a safety test scandal at Toyota’s Daihatsu compact car unit that emerged last year.

That scandal resulted in Daihatsu factories being closed down.

Toyota apologises

The wide-ranging faulty testing at Japan’s top car-maker, Toyota, involved the use of inadequate or outdated data in collision tests and incorrect testing of airbag inflation and rear-seat damage in crashes.

Engine power tests also were found to have been falsified.

Toyota said its wrongdoing occurred during six different tests conducted in 2014, 2015, and 2020.

A man in black-framed glasses sits in front of a white background speaking and gesturing with his right hand in the air
Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda apologised for the safety testing failures at a press conference in Tokyo. (Kazushi Kurihara/Kyodo News via AP)

The vehicles were three production models — the Corolla Fielder, Corolla Axio and Yaris Cross — and discontinued versions of four popular models, including one sold under the Lexus luxury brand.

Toyota suspended production of the Corolla Fielder, Corolla Axio and Yaris Cross in Japan.

The company said the wrongdoing does not affect the safety of the vehicles already on roads, which include the Corolla subcompact and Lexus luxury vehicles.

“We sincerely apologise,” Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda said, bowing deeply at a news conference in Tokyo.

Toyota said it is still investigating issues related to vehicle fuel efficiency and emissions, and aimed to complete that inquiry by the end of June.

It added there were no performance issues that violated regulations and customers did not need to stop using their cars.

A Japanese government investigation into Toyota began in January, with the problems not extending to the company’s overseas production.

Shareholder pressure likely

Monday’s developments are also likely to heighten focus on Toyota’s annual general meeting later this month.

Influential proxy advisory firms Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis have recommended shareholders vote against re-electing Akio Toyoda as chairman at the meeting.

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