Friday, December 26, 2008
Toyota recalls more than 120,000 cars in China
BEIJING (AP) - Toyota Motor Corp. has issued a recall for more than 120,000 cars in China to fix a problem that could result in loss of steering control, China's quality watchdog said Thursday in the latest piece of bad news for the Japanese automaker.
Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Co., a joint venture between Toyota and China's FAW Group, will recall 121,930 vehicles beginning Friday, according to a notice on the Web site of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.
The notice said the recalled models include Crown and Reiz luxury sedans produced between 2005 and 2006, and Lexus cars produced between 2004 and 2006.
The agency said that manufacturing defects could cause the electric power steering systems to fail.
It was not clear if the same models would be recalled in other countries. Toyota officials in Japan could not immediately be reached for comment late on Thursday.
Toyota will contact owners of the affected vehicles, conduct checks and replace defective parts without charge, the Chinese agency said.
The notice did not say if any accidents have resulted from the defects.
The recall announcement was the latest in a string of bad news for Japan's No. 1 automaker. On Monday, the company said it was sinking into its first operating loss in seven decades. Then Wednesday, Toyota reported that global vehicles sales had plunged 21.8 percent in November - its biggest drop in eight years.-AP
Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Co., a joint venture between Toyota and China's FAW Group, will recall 121,930 vehicles beginning Friday, according to a notice on the Web site of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.
The notice said the recalled models include Crown and Reiz luxury sedans produced between 2005 and 2006, and Lexus cars produced between 2004 and 2006.
The agency said that manufacturing defects could cause the electric power steering systems to fail.
It was not clear if the same models would be recalled in other countries. Toyota officials in Japan could not immediately be reached for comment late on Thursday.
Toyota will contact owners of the affected vehicles, conduct checks and replace defective parts without charge, the Chinese agency said.
The notice did not say if any accidents have resulted from the defects.
The recall announcement was the latest in a string of bad news for Japan's No. 1 automaker. On Monday, the company said it was sinking into its first operating loss in seven decades. Then Wednesday, Toyota reported that global vehicles sales had plunged 21.8 percent in November - its biggest drop in eight years.-AP
Japan auto production marks worst drop since 1967
TOKYO (AP) - Japan's production of cars, trucks and buses marked its steepest drop in at least four decades in November, an industry group said Thursday, as the fallout from the U.S. slowdown crimped auto demand.
Vehicle production in Japan, home to Toyota Motor Corp. and other major automakers, plunged 20.4 percent in November compared to the same month a year ago to 854,171 vehicles, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said.
That marked the second straight month of on-year declines and the percentage slide was the biggest since the group began compiling such data in 1967, it said.
Production of passenger cars in Japan decreased 20.3 percent in November from the previous year to 737,797 vehicles, while production of trucks here declined 20.9 percent for the month to 106,170.
Japanese automakers, which also include Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. and several other manufacturers, have been hammered by the dwindling of demand in the U.S., the world's biggest auto market.
But signs are growing the fallout is so serious domestic sales are getting drastically damaged as well.
Auto executives have expressed dismay at the fall in Japanese sales, which have worsened in the last two months.
Japanese plants are being idled to reduce production, and thousands of assembly line workers have lost their jobs in recent weeks.
"Even if we are doing our utmost, the global crisis is coming at us like a tidal wave,'' Teruyuki Minoura, president of Daihatsu Motor Co., a Toyota affiliate, told reporters Thursday.
Earlier this month, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said it expected demand in Japan will dive next year to its lowest in about three decades.
Sales of new autos are expected to stand at 4.86 million in 2009, down 4.9 percent from what it's projecting for this year at 5.11 million, the group said.
New vehicle sales in Japan have never dipped below the 5 million mark since 1980.
They reached 7.78 million in 1990, during this nation's heyday "bubble'' economy.
Vehicle sales in Japan stood at about 5.02 million in 1980, and at 4.31 million in 1975.
Toyota Executive Vice President Akio Toyoda apologized for the public concern that Japan's top automaker has set off by forecasting its first operating loss in seven decades for the fiscal year ending March 2009.
"The overall world economy is said to be facing its worst crisis in 100 years,'' he told reporters.
But Toyoda brushed off questions about a recent Japanese media report that he may be promoted to president soon, and instead insisted on talking about a new car he said he hoped would appeal to women.
"This car is for housewives, moms and women. In hard times like these, it's best if women are full of life and happiness,'' he said.-AP
Vehicle production in Japan, home to Toyota Motor Corp. and other major automakers, plunged 20.4 percent in November compared to the same month a year ago to 854,171 vehicles, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said.
That marked the second straight month of on-year declines and the percentage slide was the biggest since the group began compiling such data in 1967, it said.
Production of passenger cars in Japan decreased 20.3 percent in November from the previous year to 737,797 vehicles, while production of trucks here declined 20.9 percent for the month to 106,170.
Japanese automakers, which also include Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. and several other manufacturers, have been hammered by the dwindling of demand in the U.S., the world's biggest auto market.
But signs are growing the fallout is so serious domestic sales are getting drastically damaged as well.
Auto executives have expressed dismay at the fall in Japanese sales, which have worsened in the last two months.
Japanese plants are being idled to reduce production, and thousands of assembly line workers have lost their jobs in recent weeks.
"Even if we are doing our utmost, the global crisis is coming at us like a tidal wave,'' Teruyuki Minoura, president of Daihatsu Motor Co., a Toyota affiliate, told reporters Thursday.
Earlier this month, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said it expected demand in Japan will dive next year to its lowest in about three decades.
Sales of new autos are expected to stand at 4.86 million in 2009, down 4.9 percent from what it's projecting for this year at 5.11 million, the group said.
New vehicle sales in Japan have never dipped below the 5 million mark since 1980.
They reached 7.78 million in 1990, during this nation's heyday "bubble'' economy.
Vehicle sales in Japan stood at about 5.02 million in 1980, and at 4.31 million in 1975.
Toyota Executive Vice President Akio Toyoda apologized for the public concern that Japan's top automaker has set off by forecasting its first operating loss in seven decades for the fiscal year ending March 2009.
"The overall world economy is said to be facing its worst crisis in 100 years,'' he told reporters.
But Toyoda brushed off questions about a recent Japanese media report that he may be promoted to president soon, and instead insisted on talking about a new car he said he hoped would appeal to women.
"This car is for housewives, moms and women. In hard times like these, it's best if women are full of life and happiness,'' he said.-AP
Labels: Auto news
