- Title: JAPAN: Toyota president meets with Japan PM, promises better safety standards
- Date: 9th March 2010
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (MARCH 8, 2010) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) TOYOTA PRESIDENT AKIO TOYODA ENTERING JAPAN'S PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICIAL RESIDENCE TOYODA AND STAFF WALKING INSIDE RESIDENCE TOYODA WAITING FOR JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER YUKIO HATOYAMA TO COME IN, AND GREETING HATOYAMA TOYODA AND PM HATOYAMA TALKING TOYODA AND PM HATOYAMA SITTING AND HAVING TALKS TOYODA TALKING MORE OF TOYODA AND PM HATOYAMA SITTING AND HAVING TALKS TOYODA MEETING REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOYOTA PRESIDENT AKIO TOYODA SAYING: "From now on, we want to dedicate ourselves to make more high quality cars. We want people to consider Toyota a company that both values transparency and puts the customer first. " TOYODA BEING SURROUNDED BY REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOYOTA PRESIDENT AKIO TOYODA SAYING: "I received warm words of encouragement (from the prime minister) and he also called on us to emphasize safety in our cars." TOYOTA PRESIDENT TOYODA BEING SURROUNDED BY REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOYOTA PRESIDENT AKIO TOYODA SAYING: "I consider recovery possible and in the future we will do our best to carry out, at the same time, the recall (of problematic vehicles) and the recovery (of the company). Our dealers are working towards this and doing their best." TOYODA LEAVING PRIME MINSTER'S RESIDENCE EXTERIOR OF MINISTRY OF LAND, INFRASTRUCTURE AND TOURISM TRANSPORT MINISTER SEIJI MAEHARA MEETING TOYOTA PRESIDENT AKIO TOYODA CAMERAMEN FILMING MEETING MINISTER MAEHARA, TOYODA AND STAFF SITTING TO START TALKS TOYODA SPEAKING MINISTER MAEHARA SPEAKING MORE OF MINISTER MAEHARA, TOYOTA PRESIDENT TOYODA AND STAFF TALKING SURROUNDED BY CAMERAMEN
- Embargoed: 24th March 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVADB0RWS5X3CP6UTNMD7MPRL8I3
- Story Text: Back from a hearing in the US congress, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda met with top government officials in Tokyo on Monday (March 8) to convey both Toyota's commitment to safety and to report about the hearings.
Coming out of his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Toyoda emphasized that his company would emphasize safety as well as transparency in wake of the massive recalls that have plagued the company in recent months.
"From now on, we want to dedicate ourselves to make more high quality cars. We want people to consider Toyota a company that both values transparency and puts the customer first. " Toyoda told reporters after meeting with Hatoyama.
After receiving a grilling from members of the US congress, and at one point nearly breaking down into tears when meeting with American dealers, Toyoda also received words of support from the prime minister.
"I received warm words of encouragement (from the prime minister) and he also called on us to emphasize safety in our cars." he said.
Toyoda also expressed confidence that sales in North America could recover in March after a sharp decline last month as the automaker suspended sales of some recalled models
"I consider recovery possible and in the future we will do our best to carry out, at the same time, the recall (of problematic vehicles) and the recovery (of the company). Our dealers are working towards this and doing their best." Toyoda told gathered reporters.
After meeting with Hatoyama, Toyoda then headed to Japan's transport ministry to brief Transport Minister Sejii Maehara on Toyota's recalls.
Toyoda testified at a U.S. congressional hearing last month about the recalls that affected more than 8.5 million vehicles, followed by a visit to China to ease quality concerns in the world's biggest car market. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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