- Title: JAPAN: Drivers worry as Toyota contemplates Prius recall
- Date: 6th February 2010
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (FEBRUARY 5, 2010) (REUTERS) TOYOTA AUTO SALON SHOWROOM SIGN OF TOYOTA AUTO SALON
- Embargoed: 21st February 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Transport
- Reuters ID: LVA7UDEL5V1CXK7HLXPFH47ZBOKN
- Story Text: With Toyota Motor Corp preparing to recall up to 300,000 of its latest model Prius hybrid cars due to braking problems, car owners in Tokyo were increasingly concerned about safety.
Toyota is expected to hold a news conference late Friday (February 5) to further explain the issue.
The Japanese automaker is already recalling some 8 million cars around the world for problems related to unintended acceleration which have been linked to up to 19 crash deaths in the United States over the past decade.
Toyota held a news conference in Tokyo on Thursday (February 4) trying to allay fears about the Prius brakes adding that the software glitch was not a safety hazard under a strictly legal definition.
Toyota's North American and Japanese dealers have received several dozen complaints concerning what drivers characterized as insufficient braking on its new Prius hybrid car when driving over bumpy or frozen roads.
Tokyo drivers were concerned.
"Being cost-effective is one thing and important, but security must be paramount to that," said Yasuo Suzuki, a 38-year-old Tokyo resident.
Another Tokyo resident said she was worried because her son had just bought a Toyota car.
"After I heard the news I don't think I'm going to ride in such a car," said Nobuko Hayashi, a 58-year-old housewife.
Others said they are more concerned about the effect of Toyota's recall on the Japanese economy.
"I'd like them to put the cars again into the market once they have completed all the necessary checks," added Kyohiro Okagawa, a 48-year-old Tokyo resident.
Many taxi drivers were also worried about the safety features as many taxi companies use Toyota Prius' in their efforts to go green.
"I feel a bit anxious. As a taxi driver security is very important to me and hearing that such troubles occured to breaks I cannot drive feeling safe anymore," said Yasuo Ishizuka, a 61-year-old taxi driver, who works for Hinomaru Taxi.
Hinomaru Taxi has 187 Prius' in their fleet and 40 of them could be on the recall list.
The third-generation Prius has become a core product for the company and is now Japan's top selling model.
Including second-generation models, Toyota sold 404,000 Prius cars globally last year.
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