Japan’s transport ministry has issued an order to Toyota Motor to improve its business practices after discovering the company failed to follow vehicle testing procedures for seven more models.
The transport ministry summoned Toyota Motor President Sato Koji on Wednesday. The Director-General of the ministry’s Logistics and Road Transport Bureau, Tsuruta Hirohisa, handed him the correction order.
It came to light in June that Toyota falsified performance test data on seven models to obtain the certification required for mass production. This prompted it to suspend the shipment of three models that were in production.
In early July, Toyota said no wrongdoing was found during an internal probe other than that related to the seven models. But a detailed investigation by the transport ministry, including an onsite inspection of Toyota’s headquarters, revealed malpractice concerning seven other models.
The corrective order requires Toyota to draw up fundamental measures within a month to prevent a recurrence. Toyota also needs to report on its progress every quarter.
This is the fourth time for the ministry to issue a correction order under the Road Transport Vehicle Act. It’s the first one issued to Toyota.