Toyota has long maintained its family ties, with descendants of the company’s founder holding top management positions. Shoichiro Toyoda, son of Toyota’s founder Kiichiro Toyoda, currently serves as the honorary chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation. His son Akio Toyoda just recently took the helm of the company, serving as president and CEO.
Being the grandson of the company’s founder, it seemed only a matter of time before Akio Toyoda would stand out and hold himself personally responsible for the recalls of millions of vehicles worldwide. At a news conference held Friday night in Japan, Toyoda did exactly that, and apologized on behalf of the company.
“I deeply regret that I caused concern among so many people,” Toyoda said. “We will do our utmost to regain the trust of our customers.”
In addition to expressing his regret towards customers, and the company’s shareholders, Toyoda also said that a global quality task force would be assembled that would focus on quality issues, and that he would personally be in charge of the committee.
Toyota vehicles have regularly performed well in safety testing, and unfortunately concern over recent recalls may tarnish that reputation for safety, but perhaps only in the short term. The company’s president stressed that the safety of its customers remains paramount.
“I came out here today because I would not want our customers to spend the weekend wondering whether their cars are safe,” he said, reassuring customers that they remain the top priority.
For more information on Toyoda’s comments and on the new global quality task force, see the official press release below.
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Press Release:
Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda Announces Global Quality Task Force
February 5, 2010Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda spoke at a press conference today in Nagoya. Mr. Toyoda expressed his deep regret for the inconvenience and concern caused to our customers. He also announced that he personally will take the lead toward improving quality around the world by establishing a global quality task force that will conduct quality improvement activities region by region.
The Committee headed by Mr. Toyoda will have a six point action plan:
1) Improve Quality Inspection Process – Toyota will once again inspect every process, while verifying the causes that led to the recalls, including quality in design, production, sales and service.
2) Enhance Customer Research – Toyota will enhance the customer information research offices in each region to collect information faster.
3) Establish an “Automotive Center of Quality Excellence” in key regions to further develop quality management professionals
4) Support from Outside Experts – Toyota will seek confirmation and evaluation from outside experts—in line with the industry’s best practices—of its newly improved quality control management, based on the above improvements.
5) Increased Communication – In addition, Toyota will work to increase the frequency of communication with regional authorities.
6) Improve regional autonomy – To provide customers with satisfying products in each and every region, Toyota has long promoted the autonomy of its regional subsidiaries. We intend to further enhance this autonomy, listen carefully to each and every customer and improve quality.
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