As we told you earlier this week on Auto Plus, Toyota is now at the center of a major scandal involving one of its subsidiaries, Daihatsu, following the revelation of falsified safety tests.
Japan’s transport ministry has launched an inspection at Daihatsu headquarters to verify elements of an independent report detailing violations observed in group processes.
How did the novel begin?
The case began last spring, when Daihatsu admitted to falsifying crash test results for some of its models. In response to this, an independent investigative commission was created to clarify the nature of the violations and determine their root cause.
The investigative report, released Wednesday, detects 174 violations distributed among 25 test categoriessince 1989. These violations concern 64 vehicle models, including those made on behalf of Toyota, Mazda and Subaruwhich forced Daihatsu to temporarily suspend deliveries of all its models in production.
Daihatsu has apologized sincerely for betraying the trust of its customers, calling its behavior disgusting. Daihatsu Chairman Soichiro Okudaira expressed regret and stressed the need for fundamental reform to restore the company.
What is the impact on Toyota?
As for Toyota, as the owner of a significant stake in Daihatsu, the manufacturer apologized for the inconvenience caused by the situation. However, he also highlighted the seriousness of Daihatsu’s negligence in the certification process, saying it shakes the very foundations of the company. However, Toyota is well aware that it cannot be absolved of responsibility for monitoring its subsidiary.
The consequences for Daihatsu and Toyota could be serious. The inspection of the Ministry of Transport of Japan is being carried out, and production suspension of the affected models may be necessary if the certification process needs to be changed. This will have a direct impact on Daihatsu and its suppliers. Toyota has already come under sanctions on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, its shares fell by 4%.
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Source: Auto Plus
Robert is an experienced journalist who has been covering the automobile industry for over a decade. He has a deep understanding of the latest technologies and trends in the industry and is known for his thorough and in-depth reporting.