Toyota safety hearings
Live coverage of congressional hearings into safety recalls by Toyota
- Toyota vows quality shake-up www.reuters.com
- Scenarios: Impact of recall saga on Toyota's 2010/11 earnings www.reuters.com
- Timeline: Toyota from rise to recall crisis, hearings www.reuters.com
- Incentives will aid Toyota sales: AutoNation CEO www.reuters.com
- Hearing on Toyota vehicle recalls starting shortly...
- Hearing underway...
- Toyota's top U.S. sales executive, Jim Lentz, arrived at the Rayburn Building about 20 minutes before the start of the hearing. He arrived in a brand new silver four-wheel drive 2010 Toyota Highlander SUV. On Jan. 21, Toyota recalled about 2.3 million vehicles because of a "sticky" accelerator pedal. "certain" Toyota 2010 Highlanders were included in this recall
- Rep. Bart Stupak says in opening statement Toyota's leadership has been ambiguous about cause of problems
- Stupak says NHTSA officials have bought into Toyota claim that problems are human error
- Stupak says he is concerned that NHTSA may be too "cozy" with the automakers it is supposed to oversee on safety issues.
- "What we found is quite troubling. Toyota all but ignored pleas from consumers" to investigate incidents of unintended sudden acceleration -- Bart Stupak of Mighigan says
- Stupak: Toyota must complete review of electronic controls
- Stupak is a Democrat from Michigan
- "Toyota misled the American public" - Stupak
- How do the Japanese view Toyota's congressional appearance? This editorial in a top Japanese paper says Japan's very image is at stake... bit.ly
- Joe Barton, Republican from Texas, makes an opening statement. He says he is trained as an industrial engineer.
- "We do not want to assume automatically that Toyota has done something wrong and has tried to cover it up," - Joe Barton
- Barton says lawmakers should not "go on a witch hunt"
- Henry Waxman, Democrat from California, gives an opening statement
- Waxman disappointed in Toyota's response
- "These documents show that both Toyota and NHTSA have recieved thousands of complaints of runaway Toyota" vehicles. "What is significant is what is missing fom the documents." Toyota did not take a serious look at the possibility of electronic throttle effects until two months ago, Waxman said.
- NHTSA still does not have software engineers on staff to determine if electronic throttle issues are a cause of unintended acceleration -- Waxman.
- Waxman's comments on "runaway" Toyota vehicles almost makes it sound like the cars drove themselvesby tobyzakaria via twitter 2/23/2010 4:20:04 PM
- For all its troubles, another Japanese newspaper, The Mainichi, says Toyota does have its supporters in the U.S. bit.ly
- Waxman mispronounces the company's name. He calls it "Tie-oh-tah"
- Waxman - "Fundamental reforms are needed"
- So what's the correct pronounciation Bernie?by tobyzakaria via twitter 2/23/2010 4:21:40 PM
- "NHTSA seems stuck in a mechanical mindset," Waxman said, saying that the industry has moved forward with electronic controls
- Toby, I THINK it is Toy-oh-tah not Tie-oh-tah. No? Or is that just the accepted convention?
- First mention of U.S. ownership of GM, Chrysler given by Michael Burgess, Republican of Texas
- I bow to your expertise @berniewoodallby tobyzakaria via twitter 2/23/2010 4:25:05 PM
- Toyota's Prius retained its title as Consumer Reports top pick for environmentally friendly vehicle despite a recent recall of 437,000 of the model for brake issues, reports BusinessWeek www.businessweek.com
- Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) : "In the battle between economics and safety, safety must come first"
- Reuters correspondent Nick Carey was the first to report the State Farm/Toyota story
- Burgess says government interest in GM poses "inherent conflict of interest"
- "What was NHTSA doing for the past five years as drivers were calling to complain about Toyota cars," -- Michael Burgess R-Texas
- "This is not a trial but a hearing," says Marcia Blackburn, R-Tennessee, who says she is concerned about the tone of some comments of her colleagues so far in the hearing.
- Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Illinois) says safety regulators suffered from "sluggishness" in keeping up with technology
- Gimme Credit, an independent research service that rates corporate bonds, downgraded its rating on Toyota on Tuesday morning in anticipation of Congressional hearings, Detroit Free Press reports
www.freep.com 
- Wondering who's testifying today? The photo below by Reuters' Rebecca Cook, is the key man for Toyota, Jim Lentz. Toyota chief Akio Toyoda is up tomorrow. We'll have pictures from the testimony later.
- Rush -- Toyota risks "driving down the road to an inquiry by the Justice Dept."
- Phil Gingrey, R-Georgia, says he does not believe it, but he wonders whether there is an attack on Toyota by those who want to see U.S. automakers prosper.
- Markey drives a Toyota - a Camry hybrid -- we're learning about lawmakers' car choicesby tobyzakaria via twitter 2/23/2010 4:38:45 PM
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