The Japanese government has ordered Toyota Motor to implement “drastic reforms” following the discovery of new violations in its vehicle certification processes. The Transport Ministry’s directive comes after an on-site inspection revealed intentional misconduct in the certification of seven additional models.
Key Points:
- New Violations: The Transport Ministry found widespread irregularities in the certification of seven Toyota models, some of which had not been previously disclosed.
- Corrective Order: Toyota has been instructed to overhaul its certification operations to ensure compliance. The company is currently verifying that the affected models meet regulatory requirements.
- No Immediate Impact on Customers: Toyota assured that customers do not need to stop using the affected vehicles.
Background:
In June, Toyota and four other automakers admitted to submitting flawed or manipulated data for vehicle certification. The affected Toyota models include:
| Current Models | Discontinued Models |
|---|---|
| Corolla Fielder | Corolla Axio |
| Yaris Cross | Lexus brand model |
| Noah (Minivan) | |
| Voxy (Minivan) | |
| RAV4 | |
| Harrier | |
| Lexus LM |
Industry-Wide Checks:
The investigation into Toyota’s certification practices followed a safety test scandal at Toyota’s Daihatsu unit, prompting the Transport Ministry to mandate industry-wide reviews.
- Overseas Certification: The ministry noted that six of the seven additional models were also certified in other countries. Relevant authorities abroad have been informed of the issues.
- Production Plans: Toyota plans to resume production of the affected models from September, pending confirmation from the Transport Ministry that the vehicles comply with all regulations.
The Japanese government’s directive underscores the importance of transparency and accuracy in vehicle certification processes, particularly for a global brand like Toyota
