Suspension of shipments of 10 Toyota models, Toyota Loom Group’s certification fraud continues to be a problem | Reuters

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On January 29, Toyota Motor Corporation announced that it would temporarily suspend shipments of vehicles equipped with engines that were found to be in violation in output tests of three automotive diesel engine models commissioned by Toyota Industries. The photo shows the Toyota logo. Photographed in March 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand (2024 Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha)

TOKYO (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corporation (7203.T), opens new tab President Tsuneji Sato on the 29th apologized for the certification fraud at Toyota Industries (6201.T), opens new tab, and announced that the group company Regarding the series of problems, he said, “What the Toyota Group must do is to pause, reflect, face the problems, and look forward anew.”

President Sato explained to reporters that the reason behind the continued fraud in groups such as Daihatsu Motor and Hino Motors is that the development and certification departments are in the same department and they do not check each other. “The underlying common problem is the awareness of understanding and respecting the certification system, and the need to comply with it.We need to look at the whole issue and tackle it, regardless of individual cases.”

“We weren’t taking action to address organizational issues. As technology became more sophisticated and the workload increased, we lost the balance of the importance of conducting proper checks on the ground.” he said.

Toyota has decided to temporarily halt shipments of vehicles equipped with these engines after violations were found during the output tests of three automotive diesel engines that Toyota Looming Co., Ltd. had outsourced to develop. The target is 10 car models, including the Land Cruiser 300 and Hilux, of which 6 are in Japan.

In Japan, we have decided to suspend shipments from the evening of the 29th until February 1st, and a decision will be made in the afternoon of the 1st for shipments from the 2nd onwards. Six lines at four factories are affected. Overseas shipments will be gradually suspended from the 30th. According to President Sato, the number of units affected per month is 36,000 units worldwide and 7,000 units in Japan.

During engine output tests, Toyota Loom measures the engine’s output performance using an ECU (electronic control unit) that uses software different from that used for mass production, and reports the results in a manner that suppresses variations so that the measured values ​​are stable. Ta. The company says that “during the test, the fuel injection amount was adjusted to produce good-looking data regarding the output and torque curves.”

Toyota has re-examined the mass-produced engines and vehicles in question and confirmed that they meet engine output standards, and there is no need to immediately stop using the vehicles.

Toyota has been transferring its diesel engine business to Toyota Loom. President Sato acknowledged that there was a lack of communication between the two companies during the technology transfer. On top of that, he added, “I’m also talking with (Toyoda Loom’s) President Koichi Ito to try to develop a way of communicating that will allow both companies to go a little further into actual business operations.” Stated.

Toyota Loom President Ito, who spoke at a press conference on the same day, apologized for the “huge inconvenience” to customers, dealers, suppliers, regulatory agencies, and other related parties. He said he “takes this extremely seriously and is deeply remorseful.” Pointed out “lack of communication with Toyota” as the cause of the fraud. He explained that there was a lack of awareness of legal compliance and that “the organization and systems needed to proceed with development and production were inadequate.”

On the same day, Toyota Loom announced that a special investigation committee investigation into certification tests for forklift engines revealed that fraud in forklift engines had expanded, and new fraud was confirmed in automobile engines for Toyota. did.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will conduct an on-site inspection of Toyota Locomotive’s Hekinan Factory (Hekinan City, Aichi Prefecture) starting at 9 a.m. on the 30th.

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