Is US bullying Toyota on recall?

#1
OrangeEmpire

OrangeEmpire

The White Debonair
Joined
Nov 28, 2005
Messages
74,988
Likes
60
#1
AFP: Is US bullying Toyota on recall?

CHICAGO — The US transportation chief's public rebukes of Toyota's handling of a massive safety recall have raised eyebrows, given the US government's major stake in rivals General Motors and Chrysler.
"The optics are terrible because -- and this is what happens when a government owns a company - the two companies that are going to gain the most out of this are General Motors and Chrysler," said Peter Morici, a professor at the University of Maryland's business school.
"But their behavior is consistent with the general policy of the US government, whether it's dealing with coffeemakers or cars."
Safety officials understand that product design mistakes are inevitable and will work to help companies correct the problem and alert consumers. But they will not tolerate a slow or weak response, Morici told AFP.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood sat down with reporters Wednesday to lay out a timeline of how US officials had "pushed Toyota to take corrective actions" on its pedal problems since 2007.
The meeting came a day after he issued a statement accusing the Japanese automaker of dragging its feet on recalling vehicles in danger of sudden, unintended acceleration due to pedals which could get trapped under floor mats or become "sticky."
He also caused a brief panic when he told a congressional panel that owners of 5.3 million Toyota vehicles affected by the recalls should "stop driving" them.
LaHood later sought to tone down his remarks, telling reporters: "What I meant to say and what I thought I said was if you own one of these cars or if you're in doubt, take it to the dealer and they're going to fix it."
But he insisted that safety officials "will continue to hold Toyota's feet to the fire to make sure that they are doing everything they have promised to make their vehicles safe."
Click to expand...

Thoughts?
 
#2
#2
Who didn't see this coming, eventually?



I like the new avatar and sig,btw. I'd say your leisure revelry is more often gay than somber. :whistling:
 
#3
#3
Lets see..... US Government pushes Toyota hard for recall? US government owns GM,Head of transportation tells people to stop driving their Toyotas?....... Na, theres probably nothing to this:eek:k:
 
#7
#7
Some commentator referred to "Government Gangsters" hassling Toyota to protect their interests.

One of his quotes was this:

DoT Secy LaHood: "That's nice little car company ya got there...be a shame if something happened to it"
 
#11
#11
volinbham said:
Some commentator referred to "Government Gangsters" hassling Toyota to protect their interests.

One of his quotes was this:

DoT Secy LaHood: "That's nice little car company ya got there...be a shame if something happened to it"
Click to expand...

Obama going to give Mr. Toyoda "an offer he can't refuse."
 
#12
#12
I find it ironic the Prius faces a recall. We trade out environmentally sound for human death machines...
 
#13
#13
Last edited:
#14
#14
n other parts of the world, governments routinely help their domestic auto industries with tax breaks, reimbursement for research and development, worker training funds and — perhaps most significantly — state-sponsored health care. “It would be hard to find a country that has less of a broad infrastructure to support the auto industry than the U.S.,” says manufacturing expert Harley Shaiken, a professor at the University of California-Berkeley.
“I think many of the countries we compete with in automotive have a more significant investment in worker training, in broader forms of technical training.
“Certainly Germany and Japan do,” Shaiken tells Ward's. “Beyond that, I think there is a broader understanding of the importance of a manufacturing base to the health of an economy.”
Australia has pumped billions into its auto industry. Local and state governments have come up with millions more in the name of saving jobs.
For example, former Victorian state Labor Premier Steve Bracks recommended Australia spend A$2.5 billion ($2 billion) in assistance to promote vehicle manufacturing.


U.S. Lags in Auto Industry Support
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top