Watch an enhanced video at www.videocrux.com . Toyota will suspend production from this weekend of two hybrid vehicles in Japan, as the chief of the beleaguered auto maker faces further pressure to explain its mass safety recalls to the US Congress. The world’s biggest auto company has recalled more than eight million vehicles worldwide over faulty accelerator and brake systems in a spiralling public relations nightmare for one of Japan’s greatest corporate icons. The recall covers models with “sticky accelerators” that cause cars to race out of control, a defect blamed for several deadly high-speed crashes, and has widened to brake system problems in the Prius and other hybrid models.
Toyota president urged to testify in US Congress A senior US lawmaker has again urged the president of embattled Toyota Motor to explain the company’s handling of its recent, mass recalls to a congressional committee. Representative Darrell Issa is the senior Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He made the call at a Toyota dealership near San Diego, California, on Tuesday. Issa was being briefed by mechanics on how potentially defective accelerator pedals were being fixed. He also heard how the dealer is responding to owners of recalled vehicles. Issa expressed satisfaction with the dealer’s handling of the problem. But he said the oversight committee would have to verify that there are no further safety issues. He said it would also have to confirm why Toyota and the US highway safety authority didn’t take action sooner. Issa reiterated his wish that Toyota President Akio Toyoda attend a hearing of the committee scheduled for February 24th. He said he did not want the Toyota president to miss that opportunity to explain the company’s position. 2010/02/17 15:30(JST) (JST: UTC+9hrs.) www.nhk.or.jp
