Toyota Motor is trying to repair reputational damage from a recent testing and certification scandal. The automaker has submitted a report to Japan’s transport ministry that explains how it will prevent similar wrongdoing in the future.
The report is a response to a corrective order issued by the ministry last week. The order followed revelations that Toyota manipulated safety testing data for 14 types of car to get certification for them.
Sato Koji, President and CEO of Toyota Motor, told a press conference: “We will clarify our role and responsibility to establish a strong management system. The management will take responsibility for creating an environment that can detect abnormalities when something happens.”
The report by Toyota blames both management and front-line workers for the wrongdoing.
It says the company will introduce an education program for management and executives so they have a better understanding of the rules.
It will also improve the way information is reported to management, and appoint an “internal examiner” to attend certification tests.
Toyota has 400 people in its certification department. It plans to beef up that number by about 10 percent.
The firm says it will provide progress reports to the ministry every three months.
Sources say Toyota has revised down its planned annual global production this year from approximately 10.3 million units to about 9.8 million.
That’s partly because of the certification scandal, and partly due to recalls. Annual output is expected to fall for the first time in four years.