- Title: JAPAN: Toyota responds to concerns on Prius brakes
- Date: 5th February 2010
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (FEBRUARY 4, 2010) (REUTERS) TOYOTA TOKYO OFFICE BUILDING TOYOTA SIGN NEWS CONFERENCE IN TOYOTA (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) HIROYUKI YOKOYAMA, TOYOTA MANAGING OFFICER, SAYING: "When we've been told something by our customers, our goal is to respond as soon as possible and we have already changed the design for the Prius from January." YOKOYAMA SEATED WITH OTHER TOYOTA OFFICIALS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) HIROYUKI YOKOYAMA, TOYOTA MANAGING OFFICER, SAYING: "As for the questions regarding whether the stopping distance will increase, if one strongly pushes on the brake, there is no problem with the car stopping." CAMERA CREWS FILMING NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTERS ON COMPUTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) HIROYUKI YOKOYAMA, TOYOTA MANAGING OFFICER, SAYING: "As for whether this will mean a recall, we are currently looking into what we can do as soon as possible for our customers to buy our vehicles. However, we hope for a bit more time before deciding on specific measures." NEWS CONFERENCE TOKYO PRIUS ON DISPLAY AT TOYOTA'S TOKYO OFFICE PRIUS TAG PRIUS DRIVERS AREA PRIUS BRAKE PEDAL ELECTRONIC STOCK PRICE BOARD ON STREET OF TOKYO PEOPLE WALKING BY STOCK PRICE BOARD IN FRONT OF STOCK BROKERAGE MAN WATCHING STOCK BOARD BOARD SHOWING TOYOTA SHARES DOWN 115 YEN AND HONDA SHARES UP 95 YEN (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 56 YEAR-OLD EVENT COMPANY EMPLOYEE, SHINICHI KATAOKA, SAYING: "So far Toyota has always been the number one in the world and it was trusted by everybody. But now, unlike before, I would hesitate before buying a car." (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 57 YEAR-OLD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY EMPLOYEE, KOICHI YOSHIDA, SAYING: "It's the company that represents Japan's car industry so I think it is strong enough and it will be fine." BOARD SHOWING TOYOTA SHARES DOWN -110 BOARD SHOWING NIKKEI STOCK INDEX AND CHARTS
- Embargoed: 20th February 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Transport
- Reuters ID: LVA8UX7PESNKWRGAI7G7HW7DUAHR
- Story Text: Toyota Motor on Thursday (February 4) tried to allay fears about the brakes on its popular hybrid Prius models at a time when the company is already embroiled in a massive global recall.
Coming on the heels of Toyota's massive recall regarding stuck accelerators on millions of its cars, Toyota's managing officer Hiroyuki Yokoyama told reporters in Tokyo that Toyota's biggest concern was its customers.
"When we've been told something by our customers, our goal is to respond as soon as possible and we have already changed the design for the Prius from January," Yokoyama told a news conference.
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.
The braking was described as a side-effect of the ABS system used by the Prius and Toyota assured customers that it would not affect the stopping distance needed.
"As for the questions regarding whether the stopping distance will increase, if one strongly pushes on the brake, there is no problem with the car stopping," Yokoyama answered when asked about whether the brakes would affect driving.
The company has yet to announce any specific measures, although Yokoyama said that the company hopes to have a solution as soon as possible.
"As for whether this will mean a recall, we are currently looking into what we can do as soon as possible for our customers to buy our vehicles. However, we hope for a bit more time before deciding on specific measures," Yokoyama said when asked what the company plans to do in response.
Affecting more than simply Toyota's share price, the recall and now possible problems with the Prius have caused some consumers to question the automaker's reputation.
"So far, Toyota has always been the number one in the world and it was trusted by everybody. But now, unlike before, I would hesitate before buying a car," said 56-year-old Shinichi Kataoka.
Others, however, felt that Toyota would manage to recover from its problems and would soon be back on top.
"It's the company that represents Japan's car industry so I think it is strong enough and it will be fine," 57-year-old Koichi Yoshida told Reuters.
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. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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