Japanese officials raided Toyota’s headquarters on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 as the safety test scandal involving several automakers in the country deepened.
The inspections at Toyota’s central Japan offices, expected to continue for several days, were confirmed by Japan’s Ministry of Transport. This development adds pressure on the world’s largest automaker by sales as it faces increasing scrutiny over its vehicle certification processes.
The Ministry of Transport revealed that five automakers — Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha — had submitted incorrect or manipulated safety test data for vehicle certification. Consequently, Toyota, Mazda, and Yamaha have been ordered to halt shipments of certain models, including the Corolla Fielder and Corolla Axio, and all five companies have been instructed to review their safety certification methods.
Toyota’s internal investigation disclosed that at least seven of its models, some discontinued, had been tested using non-compliant methods. The company is probing “inadequate data in pedestrian and occupant protection tests” and “errors in crash tests.” Despite these issues, Toyota stated it had not breached safety regulations, assuring customers that their vehicles remained safe to use.
Koji Endo of SBI Securities noted that Japan’s certification tests, established in 1951, are stringent and outdated, posing challenges for automakers. He pointed out that of the numerous tests conducted by Toyota over the past 15 years, only a few had raised concerns, suggesting a limited scope of the issue.
The scandal, nonetheless, poses a significant problem for Toyota due to its prominent market position. Company chairman Akio Toyoda, grandson of Toyota’s founder, apologized for the oversight and committed to strengthening corporate culture and improving vehicle quality.
While Toyota’s factories will not halt operations, production will pause for the three models under investigation. Inspections at the facilities of the other implicated automakers are planned but dates remain unspecified.
Earlier this year, Toyota suspended shipments of certain models after discovering certification test irregularities for diesel engines from its affiliate, Toyota Industries. The latest scandal follows last year’s revelation that Daihatsu, a Toyota-owned small carmaker, had forged safety test results for over 30 years.
