So is Toyota getting . . . . . .

[cars]

A fair Deal with it's gas peddle problems?



It was reported that Toyota was reportedly set to pay the full $16.4 million fine to the U.S. government, so long as the automaker would not be required to admit any wrong doing. Well, the official statements have been released.

As part of that process, Toyota now openly admits that it could have (and should have) done a better job of sharing relevant information, and it welcomes "a new, more transparent chapter" in its relationship with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Additionally, the automaker has outlined a few of its next steps, citing that a new Chief Quality Officer has been appointed for North America and that it has strengthened its information-gathering capabilities in an effort to investigate potential problems with quicker response times.



Still, Toyota denies that it withheld any pertinent information from NHTSA, saying, "We did not try to hide a defect to avoid dealing with a safety problem."

So is Toyota truly at fault? Or is Toyota getting raked over the coals by NHTSA, thus eventually benefiting the US Automakers?

[spot]

It could well be a chauvinist wave sweeping the US which Toyota's got caught up in. What did I read recently about Toyota withdrawing a people carrier from the market just because a review claimed it could fall over if oversteered, though nobody had ever managed to make it happen? We'd have no double-decker buses here if that test were applied indiscriminately.

If you want to be properly chauvinist, buy an American-designed car. Moaning after you've parted with the cash is pointless.

[DrLeftover]

Given the loss of face and stature of the company and its board of directors in the eyes of their employees and customers in Japan....

Yeah. It's good.

[spot]

Ah, yes. I forgot to also mention the anti-Jap sentiment which invariably emerges at moments of crisis in the US.

[hoppy]

spot;1304617 wrote: Ah, yes. I forgot to also mention the anti-Jap sentiment which invariably emerges at moments of crisis in the US.


I hate it when I have to agree with spot, but in this case I think he's right. Our money hungry government sees a chance to stick a fat hog by fining the snot out of Toyota. I think every error is going to result in a massive fine by this administration.

[beowulf]

but it could easily back fire.............they could easily shift all their american manufacturing to canada or mexico........and how many thousands of americans would suddenly be out of work?

[spot]

Were I Japanese I think I'd only consider buying American products after the last US base on Japanese territory closed. Selling better quality cars at lower prices than the domestic industry achieves may be satisfying but it only goes so far.