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Toyota head to face US Congress over safety crisis
AFP
AFP - Friday, February 19
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Toyota head to face US Congress over safety crisis
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TOKYO (AFP) - – Toyota's chief has bowed to pressure to testify before a US congressional committee that is also now demanding a whistleblower lawyer hand over potentially damning documents on vehicle defects.
US lawmakers have issued a subpoena for former Toyota lawyer Dimitrios Biller, who has accused the world's biggest car maker of hiding and destroying evidence and of "a culture of hypocracy and deception."
Toyota has had to recall more than eight million cars worldwide for defects linked to more than 30 deaths in the United States that have sparked a host of US lawsuits that could cost the company billions of dollars in damages.
Akio Toyoda, the usually publicity-shy grandson of the company's founder, had said he had no plans to appear before the US Congress but relented following an invitation by Representative Edolphus Towns on Thursday.
"I look forward to speaking directly with Congress and the American people," Toyoda said in a statement ahead of next Wednesday's hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, chaired by Towns.
"Since I received an official letter, I decided that I'm pleased to go. I want to speak there with all sincerity," he told reporters.
"What I want to stress most is our cooperation in determining the causes and our firm stance on safety. I would like to seek their understanding about our feelings about our customers and about the United States of America."
Towns and Representative Darrell Issa said they were pleased Toyoda will come and added: "We believe his testimony will be helpful in understanding the actions Toyota is taking to ensure the safety of American drivers."
They also asked Biller, a top US lawyer for Toyota from 2003 to 2007, to bring all documents he has "relating to Toyota motor vehicle safety and Toyotas handling of alleged motor vehicle defects and related litigation."
Biller, speaking with ABC News, has accused Toyota of hiding and destroying evidence and of "a culture of hypocracy and deception." He and Toyota have launched legal action against each other, and Toyota denies Biller's claims.
The two Congressmen said in their statement: "The only way we can ensure that the safety needs of American drivers are being met is to examine, in a bipartisan fashion, exactly who knew what and when, and if appropriate and immediate action was taken to mitigate any danger to the American public."
The iconic company, whose global expansion pushed it past General Motors in 2008 as world number one, is facing a litany of complaints ranging from unintended acceleration to brake failure in its Prius hybrid cars.
The number of complaints alleging deaths related to the accelerator flaw has surged to at least 34 since the company announced on January 26 it was suspending sales of eight models in the United States.
On Thursday, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also formally launched an investigation into complaints of steering problems in the 2009 and 2010 models of the Toyota Matrix and Corolla.
At home, company president Toyoda has faced mounting criticism about his handling of the crisis, the worst in the company's history.
"President Toyoda should have announced his attendance much earlier as he has no choice but to appear before Congress under the current circumstances," said Mamoru Kato, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Centre.
"Toyota Motor hopes to calm the issue with his appearance, but it's unlikely," he said. "There is no sign of this blowing over as distrust with Toyota is quite serious, particularly in the United States."
President Barack Obama's Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has vowed "to hold Toyota's feet to the fire" to make sure its cars are safe.
In a bid to prevent runaway car crashes, Toyota announced Wednesday that it would fit all new models with a system to cut engine power when the driver steps on the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time.
Toyota shares fell 0.74 percent to 3,335 yen in morning trade. The stock has plunged more than 20 percent since January 21 in response to the mass recalls, which have triggered fears for the brand image of the whole of corporate Japan.
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