Toyota vows to improve quality amid rising recalls

[megeebee]

Did you ever think you'd read THIS?:




Toyota vows to step up quality amid rising recalls




Reuters | 8:00 am, July 20, 2006




TOKYO -- Toyota Motor Corp., plagued with a rise in vehicle recalls and facing a legal probe into past recall practice, vowed on Thursday to step up quality efforts, saying this was imperative to ensure continued growth.

Japan's top automaker, which has built its reputation on offering safe and reliable cars at reasonable prices, has recalled more than 1 million vehicles in Japan alone so far this year, and on Wednesday, July 19, issued a recall of about 400,000 SUVs in the United States, its single-biggest market.

In a first for the company, Toyota is also being criminally investigated by prosecutors in Kumamoto, southern Japan, over whether its quality-control managers had wrongfully delayed a recall filing that could have prevented a road accident in 2004 that injured a couple and their three young children.

"The world-class quality that we've built is our lifeline," President Katsuaki Watanabe told a mid-year news conference dominated by questions over Toyota's recent quality woes.

"There will be no growth without an improvement in quality. This is the biggest task that this management team must undertake," he said.

Vehicle recalls have been on the rise at most automakers as they use common components across more models to save costs, and pile on advanced features requiring more electronics parts to add value to their products.

"Given our rapid expansion, there is a need to strengthen the various quality processes," said Masatami Takimoto, one of two executive vice presidents overseeing quality at Toyota.

At a separate briefing earlier, Takimoto noted that Toyota had last year set up a new division dedicated to gathering information on glitches from users more swiftly.

Another measure, taken in June last year, would enable the company to keep data on vehicles repaired after the period covered by warranty, he said.

Concerning the pending criminal case in Kumamoto, Toyota executives repeated the company's position that all decisions taken in that case were sound, but apologized for shaking up customers' trust.

Japan's transport ministry, which had summoned Toyota's quality officials earlier on Thursday for a briefing on its recall process, said it would issue the company with a business improvement order on Friday, July 21, after finding problems in its system of handling vehicle defects.


WANTS TO KEEP GM TIES

"We view GM as a great entity, from which we have a lot to learn," Watanabe said, adding Toyota wanted to maintain its 22-year-old, California-based car assembly plant which it operates with GM. "We want to keep this relationship going."


full article at: www.autonews.com

[Psionic Wibbly]

Well it certainly says something for Toyota. GM has had quality issues for at least 30 years which they completely denied having. They blamed the press, the consumers, buyers of foreign vehicles, conspiracy theorists and everyone else but themselves. It was only in the last 5 years that they grudgingly admitted having such issues and are finally sorting them out.

Compare this with the speed with which toyota has reacted; within weeks. I have no doubt at all that toyota will soon be on top of this problem and will emerge even stronger than before.

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by Psionic Wibbly

Well it certainly says something for Toyota. GM has had quality issues for at least 30 years which they completely denied having. They blamed the press, the consumers, buyers of foreign vehicles, conspiracy theorists and everyone else but themselves. It was only in the last 5 years that they grudgingly admitted having such issues and are finally sorting them out.

Compare this with the speed with which toyota has reacted; within weeks. I have no doubt at all that toyota will soon be on top of this problem and will emerge even stronger than before.

You're funny you know that!

[Kennyboy]

Originally Posted by Psionic Wibbly

Well it certainly says something for Toyota. GM has had quality issues for at least 30 years which they completely denied having. They blamed the press, the consumers, buyers of foreign vehicles, conspiracy theorists and everyone else but themselves. It was only in the last 5 years that they grudgingly admitted having such issues and are finally sorting them out.

Compare this with the speed with which toyota has reacted; within weeks. I have no doubt at all that toyota will soon be on top of this problem and will emerge even stronger than before.

HUH? SO You don't say?

[GMFreak8]

When you reach the top, there's no place to go but down. GM discovered that, and toyota will too, it's just a matter of time.

[grumbles]

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

You're funny you know that!

he makes a good point =o

[Squachy]

Toyota's not on top yet.
But they're leaking on the way there.

[griswold44]

Originally Posted by GMFreak8

When you reach the top, there's no place to go but down. GM discovered that, and toyota will too, it's just a matter of time.

GM has been able to significantly improve their vehicles while they are #1, I don't see why Toyota couldn't.

[Old Dood]

Originally Posted by griswold44

GM has been able to significantly improve their vehicles while they are #1, I don't see why Toyota couldn't.

I do not either....remember the Japanese Mind-Set....Honor! We in the west do not see things like they do.

[T-Type]

Originally Posted by Old Dood

I do not either....remember the Japanese Mind-Set....Honor! We in the west do not see things like they do.

If honor were such a bid deal, then why the criminal investigation? Wouldn't Honor have prevented things from getting that far?

Just sayin...

[Old Dood]

Originally Posted by T-Type

If honor were such a bid deal, then why the criminal investigation? Wouldn't Honor have prevented things from getting that far?

Just sayin...

I did not say they are not human...or say they are a perfect people/company..... However, they were dishonored....that means allot. Heads are going to roll there for these actions...or lack of them.

[griswold44]

Originally Posted by Old Dood

I did not say they are not human...or say they are a perfect people/company..... However, they were dishonored....that means allot. Heads are going to roll there for these actions...or lack of them.

And Toyota is also a company that understands the saying "If at first you don't succeed...try, try again". ricers-shaft-big3 once posted an article that showed Toyota's commitment to making products better everytime and showed GM & Ford's habit of just giving up if a product flounders.

[Corr69]

Originally Posted by grumbles

he makes a good point =o

Coming from you Toyota boy, I don't think you have the credibility to make anyone agree with you.

[Old Dood]

Originally Posted by Corr69

Coming from you Toyota boy, I don't think you have the credibility to make anyone agree with you.

Was that really called for? Kinda rude don't you think?

[griswold44]

Not to mention it was from someone who has had his license since April.