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Tokyo, January 30 (EFE) – Japan's Ministry of Transport on Tuesday inspected the factory of Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO), a subsidiary of automobile giant Toyota, as part of an investigation into fraud in engine certification tests.
According to a report from public broadcaster NHK, the team conducted the inspection at the TICO factory in Hekinan City, Aichi Prefecture.
The Toyota Group announced on Monday that “a fraud occurred in the horsepower output test commissioned by Toyota to certify three automotive diesel engine models.'' The affected vehicles were the Land Cruiser Prado, Land Cruiser 300, Hilux, There were 10 models including Fortuner. Hiace.
“This fraudulent act undermines the trust of industrial machinery and automobile users, and is extremely regrettable,” Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito said after Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. This also shakes the foundation of the automobile certification system. ”
Saito promised that the government would take appropriate measures based on the findings of the investigation.
Until February 1, Toyota has temporarily suspended worldwide shipments of the affected engines and models equipped with them, as well as production on six lines at four domestic plants.
“We have re-verified the mass-produced products manufactured at our plants and have determined that the affected engines and vehicles meet the engine performance output standards. Therefore, there is no need to remove the affected engines or vehicles from service. ” it added in a statement on Monday.
According to Toyota, the anomaly occurred during a horsepower output test that measured engine performance using an ECU with software different from that used in production.
The Toyota Group has been affected by a series of fraud incidents in its automobile quality control, most recently when subsidiary Daihatsu Motor Corporation was found to have rigged safety tests on 64 models, paralyzing global shipments.
In March 2022, another subsidiary, Hino Motors, admitted to submitting fraudulent emissions and fuel economy data to authorities.
In light of these revelations, Toyota's former president and current group chairman, Akio Toyoda, appeared at a press conference on Tuesday and assured that the conglomerate (now comprised of 17 companies) will take steps to move forward. did.
Mr. Toyoda said, “What I have to do now is show the direction the group should go in and create a place for the next generation to bounce back from if they set back.'' He said he would address the obvious governance issues and prevent a recurrence. He called on all group companies to avoid this. EFE
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