New Documents: Toyota Saved $$$ by Delaying Recalls

AP/Toyota's president Akia Toyoda

With millions of cars recalled, Toyota has played the model apologist, but new documents suggest the auto giant has been putting profit before safety. In papers released today, company officials boast about having saved $100 million by bargaining with the government to recall only a limited number of floor mats in Camrys and Lexuses. It also lists millions saved "by delaying safety regulations, avoiding defect investigations and slowing down other industry requirements," according to the Daily News.

In the document the floor mat recall and other "savings" are grouped under the title "Wins for Toyota—Safety Group." The new information doesn't bode well for Toyota, which already has drawn ire for recalling vehicles too slowly. Transportation Department spokeswoman Olivia Alair said the document was "very telling. And that's why Secretary (Ray) LaHood has been saying we're going to hold Toyota's feet to the fire and make sure they do what's necessary to make their cars safe for the driving public."

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By Sabrina Jaszi in News on February 22, 2010 5:17 PM

Comments [rss]

Brooklyn

". . .f X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one."

"Are there a lot of these kinds of accidents?"

"You wouldn't believe."

"Which car company do you work for?"

"A major one."

wingedearth

There's nothing wrong with the Toyotas. But Detroit, as usual, spends it effort manipulating the government to influence the market, rather than just making better cars.

woodendesigner

They may have saved $$$ initially but they are going to be paying out the A$$ for a long time to come.

Dan

fuck toyota buy American.

jaycjay

"fuck toyota buy American."

The recalled Toyotas were built in America by Americans.

wingedearth

That's right, Toyota and Nissan build in the South (Mississippi largely) where there's highly skilled non-union labor. Detroit build their parts on the other side of the planet, but assembles the cars in Detroit where the unionized labor makes everything three times more expensive.

ralph

Like Dan said fuck Toyota drive American!! fuck you traitors! Remember Pearle Harbor? Mr nivek yuppie?

nivek

Thanks for the opinion, Mr. White Trash.

Would you like to link us to some videos of Glenn Beck teabagging Rush Limbaugh?

longacre

Yeah, because no American car has ever been recalled for flipping over or bursting into flames or anything.

db

Once again...a car company more concerned about a dollar instead of a customer. Ahhh capitalism.

Joshua

Yep, sounds like another one for the 'you think?' pile.

Really, the biggest car maker in the world and everyone's surprised they would hide something that could potentially ruin that stature? Ha.

Enjoy your Camry's, America.

inoyourider

Detroit says "Thank you!"

ides_of_march

More like the Detroit union bosses.

inoyourider

Yeah, it's the union bosses fault!

Not the board of directors of the accountants.

longacre

Obama's dealings with Detroit's union bosses are verifiably corrupt. The government basically rewrote 100 years of bankruptcy law to ensure the unions kept billions of dollars that should have gone to creditors.

inoyourider

And when you say "the government basically' that doesn't sound like it has a lot of fact behind it. 'Basically' just sounds like you're going to twist facts to match whatever BS you think you're selling.

inoyourider

Then verify it, don't just make vague references.

Who really put the company into bankruptcy?

The workers?

Or the bosses and the designers?

Here's a good read...

http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Day-You-General-Motors/dp/0960356207

longacre

Here's some verification from CBS and from WSJ. Pretty sure the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation did not help drive Chrysler into the ground. Also pretty sure union workers will never see a penny of that money, either.