TOKYO — Toyota on Wednesday laid out a detailed strategy for winning back consumer confidence worldwide as it continues to grapple with the fallout from its global recalls. The embattled Japanese automaker said it will add a brake-override system to all future vehicle models worldwide and will "more actively use onboard event data recorders" or so-called "black boxes."
This new quality offensive comes as Toyota faces dozens of class-action lawsuits in the U.S. that could cost it billions of dollars in damages. The automaker is striving to address the design flaws that led to unintended acceleration and braking problems in some of its most popular models.
Two U.S. Congressional committee hearings will probe Toyota's response to drivers' complaints. At least 44 class-action lawsuits had been filed under state and federal law by the end of last week, according to media reports. A court hearing is scheduled in San Diego on March 25 to determine the location of a single national case.
Toyota's brake-override system will cut engine power when the accelerator and brake pedals are applied at the same time. The use of black boxes can, "in the event of a malfunction, provide information necessary for conducting such activities as technological investigations and repairs," the automaker said.
Toyota also said it is appointing a chief quality officer for "each principal geographic region to make the company more alert to customer sentiment." It is also setting up a new Special Committee for Global Quality, which will hold its first meeting on March 30.
The automaker underscored that it will be paying special attention to the U.S.
"[Toyota] is strengthening its framework for conveying customer input from each region directly to its Quality Group and to its Product Development Group to translate that input more promptly into quality improvements in products," the company said in a statement Wednesday.
"The initiative will get underway first in the United States, where [Toyota] will expand its network of technical officers to fine-tune its information-gathering capabilities in an aim to be able to conduct on-site inspections, in principle, within 24 hours of every reported incident of suspected product malfunction."
Toyota said its long-term goal is to "provide products that are safe and reassuring."
Inside Line says: Its back against the wall, Toyota scrambles for quick fixes to its damaged reputation. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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old_cars_rock says:
03:17 PM, 02/18/2010
This "Brake-Override" is just another feature that encourages laziness behind the wheel. If the throttle sticks open, any driver should know the put the transmission in neutral. It is like that feature that Mercedes-Benz advertises that keeps the car in its lane and stops the car if it senses an imminent collision and the driver is not paying attention.
Welcome to the future! If you think drivers are bad now, wait until cheap cars have these features. The "Brake-Override" is the first step!
I will not find being on a public road "safe and reassuring" when I am surrounded by horrible drivers.
Also, I can imagine that this "Brake-Override" feature is quite a hinderance on sporty driving. Imagine being at a red light in a 2011 Toyota with an automatic transmission, ready to race the guy in the lane next to you. The light turns green and you lift your left foot off the brake pedal for a dramatic launch, only to be left in the dust because the "Brake-Override" shut your car off!
mazda609 says:
02:55 PM, 02/18/2010
"This new quality offensive comes as Toyota faces dozens of class-action lawsuits in the U.S. that could cost it billions of dollars in damages."
Welcome To America!
Anyways, if Toyota stop using sensors in the accel pedal system then they wouldnt have these problems. Mechanical is most of the time more reliable.
camaro84 says:
08:31 AM, 02/18/2010
Um, I think the brake override only applies to automatic cars. Soooo Manual owners who never would have had this stupid unintended acceleration problem wouldn't even have override system as well.
stingray454 says:
07:53 AM, 02/18/2010
GM has been using black boxes in their cars since 1997. Toyota is finally getting with the times. Tell me again what the appeal is of a Toyota? Cause I don't get it, and never did.
emiliorescigno says:
07:31 AM, 02/18/2010
If my FT-86 has a brake-override system that can't be turned off, I'll be furious.
objectiveview says:
12:52 AM, 02/18/2010
Override when tc is turned off/sport mode is turned on?
dylanmitchell says:
11:37 PM, 02/17/2010
My first thought was heel and toeing. I'm also concerned about the privacy of information contained in black boxes and their use by the goverment or insurance industry. My Mazda works well for heel and toeing but has a black box in it!
atenza94546 says:
09:50 PM, 02/17/2010
Black box is exceptionally good for American drivers.
ddoouugg says:
05:54 PM, 02/17/2010
^Or heel-toeing. This doesn't fix the problem it just masks it.
cz75 says:
05:46 PM, 02/17/2010
Good thing there aren't any Toyotas sporting enough to consider needing to left-foot brake.