Washington: Toyota President Akio Toyoda apologised Tuesday for accidents caused by faulty models and admitted the world's largest manufacturer may have grown too fast for its own good.
"All the Toyota vehicles bear my name," Toyoda, who is the grandson of the Japanese company's founder, said in prepared testimony to be delivered before the US Congress Wednesday. "For me, when the cars are damaged, it is as though I am as well".
In a stark written statement released a day early by the House Oversight Committee, Toyoda said the carmaker's "priorities became confused" as it grew in the past few years and suggested Toyota may have been focused more on expanding volume than ensuring safety.
"Toyota has, for the past few years, been expanding its business rapidly. Quite frankly, I fear the pace at which we have grown may have been too quick," Toyoda said.
"I regret that this has resulted in the safety issues described in the recalls we face today, and I am deeply sorry for any accidents that Toyota drivers have experienced," he said.
Toyota has recalled more than 8 million vehicles worldwide over problems with sticking floor mats and accelerator pedals in a series of models, as well as faulty brakes in its hybrid Prius. The recalls prompted a tumble in US sales of more than 15 percent in January and eroded the carmaker's reputation for quality.
Toyoda said he took "full responsibility" for consumers' concerns over the company's vehicles. He said Toyota "will work vigorously and unceasingly to restore the trust of our customers".
Jim Lentz, Toyota's head of US operations, told the House Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday that there may still be some unexplained reasons for unintended acceleration that some Toyota drivers have experienced.
Asked if the recalls to date had completely solved the safety concerns, Lentz responded: "Not totally".
IANS
First Published: Wednesday, February 24, 2010, 10:41