Toyota Recalls: Toyota Offers "Additional Services" to Put-Out Customers

TORRANCE, California — Toyota late Friday said it will offer "additional services" to its customers affected by the massive recalls. They include driving the customer to the dealer, free rental cars and taxi money, the automaker said in a statement.

The push for such perks came not from Toyota but from New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who essentially strong-armed the automaker into the action. Cuomo asked Toyota to provide the additional services because some of Toyota's customers were reluctant to drive their recalled vehicles until the repairs are completed. Lawmakers had also asked Toyota boss Akio Toyoda to extend the New York program nationwide during congressional hearings on Wednesday.

"Additional services are being provided to customers concerned about driving their vehicle before the repair is completed and will be tailored to the owner's individual circumstances," said Toyota in a statement.

Toyota said customers can expect "expediting scheduling of the repair, pick up and return of the vehicle by a dealership representative, and driving the customer to the dealership or to his or her place of work." It will also "where necessary, [provide] other alternate transportation for the customer, such as a rental car, loaner vehicle, or taxi reimbursement for the reasonable period that the customer is unable or unwilling to use his or her car," the automaker said.

Inside Line says: Toyota is basically forced into these steps by lawmakers and the New York attorney general. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent