Congress has obtained a document dated last July that reportedly shows Toyota saved $100 million by limiting a recall in 2007.
The Associated Press reports, “Toyota officials said they saved $100 million by successfully negotiating with the U.S. government on a limited recall of floor mats in some
“In an internal presentation in July 2009 at its Washington office, Toyota said it saved $100 million or more by negotiating an "equipment recall" of floor mats involving 55,000
Toyota released this statement on about those documents:
“Our first priority is the safety of our customers and to conclude otherwise on the basis of one internal presentation is wrong. Our values have always been to put the customer first and ensure the highest levels of safety and quality. Our recently announced top-to-bottom quality review of all company operations, along with new quality initiatives and a renewed commitment to transparency are all designed to reaffirm these values.”
The president of the troubled car manufacturer, Akio Toyoda, is expected to testify before Congress this Wednesday.
USA Today also reports, “Another key document surfaced as a result of subpoenas to U.S. auto insurers. State Farm, the biggest, says that in a review of files for the subpoena, it found a letter to NHTSA dated Feb. 27, 2004, citing five cases of Toyota or Lexus sudden acceleration in the previous 12 months. That's three years earlier than the insurer previously had said, and some five years before Toyota detailed sudden acceleration problems for the government.”
