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Toyota admits Prius brake 'clash' Toyota admits Prius brake 'clash'
(20 minutes later)
Troubled carmaker Toyota has admitted a software problem in the new Prius's brakes, but says it has now been fixed.Troubled carmaker Toyota has admitted a software problem in the new Prius's brakes, but says it has now been fixed.
The admission came on top a worldwide recall of almost 8 million cars due to floor mat and pedal problems.The admission came on top a worldwide recall of almost 8 million cars due to floor mat and pedal problems.
Toyota's managing officer, Hiroyuki Yokoyama, said the company had found a clash between the anti-lock brake system (ABS) and regenerative braking.Toyota's managing officer, Hiroyuki Yokoyama, said the company had found a clash between the anti-lock brake system (ABS) and regenerative braking.
But he said an investigation needed to be carried out before deciding on whether to issue a recall on the Prius. But he said more investigation needed to be done before deciding on whether to issue a recall on the Prius.
He told a press conference in Japan: "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."He told a press conference in Japan: "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."
ANALYSIS By Jorn Madslien, Business reporter, BBC News
Toyota Motor is on the verge of "capitulation to irrelevance or death".
Not my words, but those of Toyota president Akio Toyoda.
He said it, not in response to the ongoing recalls of cars, but in a speech more than four months ago.
The recalls have made the world aware of a variety of quality and safety problems that Toyota itself has known about for months.
The immediate result of the recalls has been immense damage to its already tattered reputation as a quality car maker.
The alternative - doing nothing - could have been even more damaging still.
Limited problemLimited problem
Mr Yokoyama said the clash occurred under limited circumstances, including on frozen surfaces.Mr Yokoyama said the clash occurred under limited circumstances, including on frozen surfaces.
As depressing the brakes further activated normal braking, Toyota said the glitch was not legally a safety hazard and said it had received no reports of any accidents related to it.As depressing the brakes further activated normal braking, Toyota said the glitch was not legally a safety hazard and said it had received no reports of any accidents related to it.
TOYOTA RECALLS: STORY SO FAR September 2007, US: 55,000 Camry and Lexus cars in floormat recallOctober 2009, US: 3.8m Toyota and Lexus vehicles recalled due to floormat problemNovember 2009, US: floormat recall increased to 4.3m vehiclesJanuary 2010, US: 2.3m Toyota vehicles recalled due to accelerator pedal problems (Of those, 2.1m already involved in floormat recall)January 2010, US: 1.1m Toyotas in floormat recallFebruary 2010, Europe: 1.8m Toyota's in pedal recallFebruary 2010, Japan, US: 180 reports of brake faults in new Prius. None recalled Q&A: Toyota recalls Toyota UK repairs start next week
Mr Yokoyama said Toyota was listening and responding to its customers' concerns: "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."Mr Yokoyama said Toyota was listening and responding to its customers' concerns: "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."
Toyota said it would notify drivers of its plans for specific steps in the near future to ease consumers' minds. Toyota's admission follows 180 reports of complaints from drivers in the US and Japan. There have been no braking problems reported in Europe, the carmaker said.
In the UK, Toyota says it will be nearly a week before it can start repairs on cars with defective accelerator pedals. In the UK, it confirmed that it would be nearly a week before it can start repairs on cars with defective accelerator pedals.
Profits surgeProfits surge
Toyota UK's Scott Brownlee demonstrates the accelerator pedal problem
Earlier, Toyota, which is the world's biggest carmaker, reported a huge swing back into profit in the last quarter of 2009.Earlier, Toyota, which is the world's biggest carmaker, reported a huge swing back into profit in the last quarter of 2009.
Its net income was 153 billion yen ($1.68bn; £1.06bn) after a loss of 164 billion yen a year earlier.Its net income was 153 billion yen ($1.68bn; £1.06bn) after a loss of 164 billion yen a year earlier.
Toyota UK's Scott Brownlee demonstrates the accelerator pedal problem
Toyota confirmed its estimate that it would lose about $2bn (£1.23bn) in costs and lost sales from its worldwide recall of potentially faulty vehicles.Toyota confirmed its estimate that it would lose about $2bn (£1.23bn) in costs and lost sales from its worldwide recall of potentially faulty vehicles.
It added it had not yet worked out the cost of the latest reports of brake problems with the new Prius.It added it had not yet worked out the cost of the latest reports of brake problems with the new Prius.
Still growingStill growing
TOYOTA RECALLS: STORY SO FAR September 2007, US: 55,000 Camry and Lexus cars in floormat recallOctober 2009, US: 3.8m Toyota and Lexus vehicles recalled due to floormat problemNovember 2009, US: floormat recall increased to 4.3m vehiclesJanuary 2010, US: 2.3m Toyota vehicles recalled due to accelerator pedal problems (Of those, 2.1m already involved in floormat recall)January 2010, US: 1.1m Toyotas in floormat recallFebruary 2010, Europe: 1.8m Toyota's in pedal recallFebruary 2010, Japan, US: 180 reports of brake faults in new Prius. None recalled Q&A: Toyota recalls Toyota UK repairs start next week
However, the firm said it still expected higher sales and to make a profit this year - despite the heavy blow to the company's reputation.However, the firm said it still expected higher sales and to make a profit this year - despite the heavy blow to the company's reputation.
Shares in Toyota hit their lowest level for 10 months on the Tokyo Stock Exchange with continuing concern about the safety of the company's vehicles.Shares in Toyota hit their lowest level for 10 months on the Tokyo Stock Exchange with continuing concern about the safety of the company's vehicles.
ANALYSIS By Jorn Madslien, Business reporter, BBC News
Toyota Motor is on the verge of "capitulation to irrelevance or death".
Not my words, but those of Toyota president Akio Toyoda.
He said it, not in response to the ongoing recalls of cars, but in a speech more than four months ago.
The recalls have made the world aware of a variety of quality and safety problems that Toyota itself has known about for months.
The immediate result of the recalls has been immense damage to its already tattered reputation as a quality car maker.
The alternative - doing nothing - could have been even more damaging still.
Its eight million recall total includes 1.8 million cars across Europe - 180,865 of those in the UK.Its eight million recall total includes 1.8 million cars across Europe - 180,865 of those in the UK.
The seven models being recalled in Europe are the Aygo, iQ, Yaris, Auris, Corolla, Verso, and Avensis, and cover manufacturing dates going back to February 2005.The seven models being recalled in Europe are the Aygo, iQ, Yaris, Auris, Corolla, Verso, and Avensis, and cover manufacturing dates going back to February 2005.
In the US, they are the RAV4, Corollas, Matrix, Avalons, Camrys, Highlander, Tundra, and Sequoia, and cover dates going back to October 2005.In the US, they are the RAV4, Corollas, Matrix, Avalons, Camrys, Highlander, Tundra, and Sequoia, and cover dates going back to October 2005.
The parts needed to repair the cars will not arrive in the UK until next week, with the first repairs scheduled for Wednesday. Toyota says the process, which should only be carried out by its dealers, takes about half an hour.The parts needed to repair the cars will not arrive in the UK until next week, with the first repairs scheduled for Wednesday. Toyota says the process, which should only be carried out by its dealers, takes about half an hour.
The carmaker said it was not aware of any accidents resulting from the issue and that only 26 incidents involving accelerator pedals had been reported in Europe.The carmaker said it was not aware of any accidents resulting from the issue and that only 26 incidents involving accelerator pedals had been reported in Europe.
Have you experienced similar problems with the accelerator of your Toyota? You can get in touch with us using the form below:Have you experienced similar problems with the accelerator of your Toyota? You can get in touch with us using the form below:
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