(Article published Monday, January 29 at 12:41 p.m., updated at 1:20 p.m.)A hard blow to Toyota. The Japanese automobile giant announced on Monday that it is suspending the delivery of ten models of diesel vehicles. A shocking announcement that follows the discovery of irregularities identified in the certification of various types of engines manufactured by its subsidiary Toyota Industries.
Among these attractive vehicles, some of which are sold in both Asia, Europe and the Middle East (but none in North America) are the Hilux pickup, the Land Cruiser 300 4×4, the Fortuner and the LX500d SUV. LCumulative production of nine of the ten models concerned totals 36,500 units per month worldwide, the group told AFP. A model has stopped being produced.
An announcement that sent Toyota Industries shares down 4% on the same day on the Tokyo Stock Exchange as the new case embarrasses the world’s number one automobile maker. On the other hand, Toyota was up 1.7% at the close.
Using the wrong testing software
In March 2023, Toyota Industries had already announced that there had been irregularities in certifications related to emissions of forklifts and construction equipment, one of its core businesses, which led to a recall of the affected products in Japan. An independent investigation has now confirmed that three diesel engines manufactured by Toyota Industries for automobiles were also affected by the same type of irregularity. During the certification tests, the power of the three diesel engines in question was measured by software different from that used for their mass production, so that the values obtained for their certifications were presented. Less variety », explains Toyota in a press release.
The manufacturer at the same time ensures that the engines and vehicles concerned “ Meet performance standards » And so there is no need to stop using it. However, Toyota Industries decided to close on Monday. Temporary » Shipments of affected engines, and Toyota shipments of models equipped with these engines.
” We recognize the seriousness of the fact that after TICO (Toyota Industries Corporation, Editor’s Note), Daihatsu, repeated certification irregularities have shaken the company’s foundation as an automobile manufacturer. “, Toyota said in its press release.
The group promised to provide ” Detailed explanation » To the Japanese authorities on this new scandal and to act quickly” appropriate ” Japan’s transport ministry has indicated it will conduct its own inspection Toyota Industry should fact-check independent reports and ensure that standards are now met.
Serial scams
The new case follows another harsh testing scandal, which targeted Daihatsu, another Toyota subsidiary, and led to the manufacturer recalling one million vehicles in the United States and banning the production and sale of three Daihatsu vans in Japan.
Additionally, the automobile giant last year faced another issue of improper testing on the engines of truck maker Hino, in which it is a majority shareholder. These three scams May damage Toyota’s reputation », according to Tatsuo Yoshida, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst specializing in the automotive sector, but its size shouldn’t hurt the giant in the long run.
But it could also have a wider impact on the sector because “ Scandals in the auto industry have historically triggered greater scrutiny of safety certification processes », the expert notes. If Daihatsu’s Mistakes ” Seen as a systemic problem, this area may be clamoring for closer scrutiny “
The Toyota Rav4 was overtaken by the Tesla Model Y for the first time
Bad news keeps coming for the Japanese group. On Wednesday, the latter learned that its Toyota Rav4 with 1.07 million copies sold worldwide – which has dominated the rankings in recent years – was overtaken by Tesla’s Model Y in 2023, which saw sales jump 64% to 1.23 million units in a year. ” This sales growth is unprecedented “, underlined Felipe Munoz, analyst of Jato Dynamics. ” What Tesla has achieved with its Model Y in such a short time is remarkable “
The Tesla Y has taken a significant lead in the Chinese and European markets, where the supply and sales of electric cars have exploded. In Europe, Tesla’s SUV has overtaken entry-level cars like the Dacia Sandero and the Peugeot 208. In the United States, the model ranked 5th behind the three pickups and the Toyota Rev4.
(with AFP)
