2023-12-21 08:45:24
The Japanese car manufacturer Toyota is recalling one million US vehicles to workshops due to a possible sensor fault. The company announced that the recall affects various models such as Corolla and Lexus from the years 2020 to 2022 in the USA. A short circuit in a sensor could result in the airbags not being deployed as intended, the reason given was.
The sensors are designed to ensure that the airbags do not deploy when a small adult or child sits in the front seat. Dealers would check the sensors and replace them if necessary.
The decision at the Japanese small car manufacturer Daihatsu is more far-reaching. The Toyota subsidiary is now stopping all deliveries worldwide due to years of falsified safety tests. Daihatsu made the decision on Wednesday after publishing a report by independent experts. Daihatsu had already admitted in the spring that it had manipulated the results of accident tests on some models. The expert commission was then set up. The government announced inspections of the factories on Thursday, according to broadcaster NHK.
Tim Kanning, Tokyo Published/Updated: Recommendations: 26 Published/Updated: Recommendations: 4 Tim Kanning, Tokyo Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 16
In their report, the experts write that they discovered a total of 174 additional “irregularities” in 25 test categories – some of which date back to 1989. They mentioned, for example, tests of doors or side impact protection. A total of 64 models are affected, including those that are no longer manufactured and those that Daihatsu manufactured for the manufacturers Toyota, Mazda and Subaru.
“Extreme time pressure”
According to the experts, the main reason for the manipulated tests is “extreme time pressure” when developing models. The employees responsible for the security tests were under enormous pressure to succeed. Cars would have had to pass the crash test on the first try, reducing the number of vehicles that would have had to be destroyed. This should reduce costs. “There was a perception that mistakes cannot be excused,” said the chairman of the expert commission, Makoto Kaiami. Daihatsu boss Soichiro Okudaira apologized to customers during a press conference for betraying their trust. Approval tests are “indispensable” for a car manufacturer – “our behavior deserves contempt”.
Parent company Toyota also expressed its “sincere apology” for the “inconvenience and distress” this “situation” had caused. Daihatsu’s misconduct shook “the foundations of the company”. Delivery of the affected Toyota models has been suspended for the time being. Toyota will also check whether customers can continue to use their vehicle without worry.
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