Toyota and Other Japanese Carmakers Say They Mishandled Safety Tests
What specific testing irregularities did Toyota Motor admit to regarding their vehicle safety tests?
Toyota Motor admitted to improperly obtaining vehicle certifications for seven car models by carrying out safety tests in ways not specified by the government. The company did not gather proper data when doing pedestrian and occupant safety tests for three models, including its popular Yaris Cross sports-utility vehicle. The irregularities were discovered after the Japanese government instructed automakers and parts suppliers to investigate whether certifications were acquired properly following a series of scandals at Toyota group firms.
Which models from Toyota were identified as having inadequate data collection during safety tests?
Three models from Toyota were identified as having inadequate data collection during safety tests. These models include the Corolla Fielder, Axio, and Yaris Cross2. The issues found were related to pedestrian and occupant protection tests. The company has temporarily halted shipments of these models produced in Japan.
How did Honda and Mazda Motor describe the issues they found in their vehicle testing processes?
Honda and Mazda Motor described the issues they found in their vehicle testing processes as problems related to the testing of several models1. They acknowledged these issues as part of the internal investigations initiated by the Japanese government's directive. However, both automakers emphasized that the testing failures would not affect the performance or safety of their vehicles, and customers could continue to use them normally. Mazda took the measure of suspending sales of two Japan models affected by the testing issues.