Toyota apologizes for cheating on tests, halts production of three models

Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda issued an apology on Monday following the discovery of extensive cheating on certification tests for seven vehicle models, leading the company to halt production of three of those models. The faulty testing procedures at Japan’s leading automaker involved using inadequate or outdated data for collision tests, incorrect testing of airbag inflation, rear-seat damage assessments, and falsified engine power tests.

Toyota Motor Corp., headquartered in Toyota City, central Japan, has suspended production of the Corolla Fielder, Corolla Axio, and Yaris Cross in Japan. The faulty tests were also found on models that have since been discontinued. Despite the issues, Toyota assured that the safety of vehicles currently on the roads, including the Corolla subcompact and Lexus luxury vehicles, remains unaffected.

Toyoda expressed deep regret, bowing deeply at a news conference in Tokyo, and said, “We sincerely apologize.”

The Japanese government launched an investigation into Toyota in January. The issues do not affect Toyota’s production outside of Japan.

In related news, Mazda Motor Corp., another Japanese automaker, reported similar issues with certification testing. Mazda halted production of the Roadster and Mazda 2 models after discovering incorrect engine control software was used in their tests. Mazda also acknowledged violations in crash tests on three discontinued models but confirmed that these issues do not compromise the safety of the vehicles.

Honda Motor Co., based in Tokyo, also apologized for improper tests related to noise levels and torque on a range of older models no longer in production, such as the Accord, Odyssey, and Fit. Honda assured that the safety of these vehicles is not compromised.

Approximately two years ago, certification issues were discovered at Toyota group companies, including truck maker Hino Motors, Daihatsu Motor Co., which specializes in small models, and Toyota Industries Corp., which manufactures machinery and auto parts. Shinji Miyamoto, a Toyota executive responsible for customer satisfaction, stated that Toyota began examining its own testing procedures following these revelations.

The recent issues have been a significant embarrassment for Toyota, which has long prided itself on production excellence and a corporate culture that empowers workers to create “ever-better cars.” Toyoda suggested that the company may have rushed its testing processes amidst a growing variety of models, but he emphasized that Toyota does not condone any violations.

“We are not a perfect company. But if we see anything wrong, we will take a step back and keep trying to correct it,” Toyoda stated. He also noted that some certification rules might be excessively stringent and vary globally, though he did not use this to excuse the company’s actions.