Toyota's president admits rapid expansion may have caused faults
Toyota's president admits rapid expansion may have caused faults
Wednesday 24th February 2010
Toyota's president has claimed the carmaker's rapid expansion may have been responsible for the faults which led to 8.5 million vehicles being recalled.Akio Toyoda is due to appear before the US congress later today to explain how the safety issues raised by faulty accelerators and brakes came about.
In a statement already circulated ahead of his appearance, the Toyota president admitted "priorities became confused" at the Japanese company as a result of its expansion.
"We pursued growth over the speed at which we were able to develop our people and our organisation, and we should sincerely be mindful of that," he said.
Mr Toyoda, the grandson of the company's founder, said he felt personally responsible for the problems experienced by Toyota owners around the world and was "deeply sorry" for the accidents caused by the faults.
"All the Toyota vehicles bear my name. For me, when the cars are damaged, it is as though I am as well. I, more than anyone, wish for Toyota's cars to be safe, and for our customers to feel safe when they use our vehicles," he said.
Mr Toyoda also made a personal apology to the family of Mark Saylor, a California highway patrol officer who was killed along with his wife, daughter and brother-in-law in a crash which led to the US government examining the Toyota faults.
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