Toyota apologizes for cheating in certification tests

Toyota President Akio Toyoda apologized today, Monday (June 3, 2024), for the fraud in certification tests that affected 7 models of vehicles, which led to the suspension of production of 3 of them.

The fraud included insufficient crash test data, incorrect airbag inflation tests, damage to rear seats in crashes, and false engine power tests. The affected models, all of which were produced in Japan, include the Corolla Fielder, Corolla Axio and Yaris Cross, in addition to other models that have already been discontinued.

a Toyota Motor CompanyToyota, headquartered in Toyota City (Japan), confirmed that the violations in the tests do not affect the safety of vehicles in circulation, including the Corolla and luxury vehicles from the Lexus division. “We sincerely apologize”“, Toyoda announced.

According to the agency News agencyThe investigation conducted by the Japanese government began last January, and revealed that the problem does not affect Toyota’s production abroad. On the same day, Mazda Motor CompanyHeadquartered in Hiroshima, W Honda Motor CompanyBased in Tokyo, it also admitted similar irregularities in its vehicle certification tests.

Toyoda, the grandson of the company’s founder, noted that some certification rules may be too strict, but stressed that this does not justify violations. “We’re not a perfect company. But if we see something wrong, we’ll take a step back and keep trying to fix it.”he announced.