Achi news desk-
Japanese carmaker Toyota will oversee model certification at its Daihatsu subsidiary to regain trust among dealers, customers and employees after a safety testing scandal, Daihatsu’s new president said on Monday.
Toyota Motor Corp will take a leadership role in various areas, including product development and procurement, said Masahiro Inoue, who took the Daihatsu helm in March.
“I have been spending every day, vowing to revive Daihatsu,” said Inoue, who previously oversaw Toyota’s South American business.
His predecessor at Daihatsu resigned after allegations of widespread cheating on safety tests came to light last year. A third party review found that offences, such as testing only one side of a car instead of both, had continued for decades.
Production at Daihatsu Motor Co was halted by government order until proper tests can be carried out and a system established to prevent this from happening again. Only some production has resumed since then. Daihatsu is known for smaller “kei” cars and off-road vehicles.
No major accidents have been reported in connection with the cheating, but the news has raised questions about oversight at Daihatsu, which is wholly owned by Toyota.
Inoue apologized and said he had visited plants, dealers and suppliers, trying to encourage better communication among the ranks. Dealers have complained that customers are waiting, but safety comes first before chasing market share, he added.
He acknowledged that one reason for the misconduct was trying to distribute products quickly to meet demand.
“All of Daihatsu, as one team, will work hard so that people can feel that our vehicles are safe. We are about to make a big change,” Inoue said.
Executive Vice President Masanori Kuwata, also of Toyota, said the fundamental way people work at Daihatsu has to change.
“There is no one quick fix,” he told reporters, “but we hope to restore positive energy among the ranks.”
