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| Toyota bosses to face US hearings | Toyota bosses to face US hearings |
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| Toyota chiefs are to begin testifying on safety issues later when the first of a series of US hearings begins. | Toyota chiefs are to begin testifying on safety issues later when the first of a series of US hearings begins. |
| The Japanese carmaker has recalled 8.5 million vehicles worldwide over safety concerns, the majority in the US. | The Japanese carmaker has recalled 8.5 million vehicles worldwide over safety concerns, the majority in the US. |
| James Lentz, head of Toyota in the US, will appear before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in Washington at 1100 local time (1600 GMT). | James Lentz, head of Toyota in the US, will appear before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in Washington at 1100 local time (1600 GMT). |
| Toyota president Akio Toyoda is due to face the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday. | Toyota president Akio Toyoda is due to face the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday. |
| Robust sales | Robust sales |
| Toyota said on Tuesday that its global sales were 15% higher in January - when many of the recalls had already been announced - than they were a year ago. | Toyota said on Tuesday that its global sales were 15% higher in January - when many of the recalls had already been announced - than they were a year ago. |
| 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 4.2m 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: 200 reports of brake faults in new Prius. Cars recalledFebruary 2010, worldwide: 436,000 hybrid vehicles in brake recall. Also, 7,300 Camry vehicles recalled in the US over potential brake tube problemsFebruary 2010, US: 8,000 Tacoma pick-up trucks recalled over concerns about defective shafts Q&A: Toyota recalls | |
| Domestic sales jumped 45%, while overseas sales rose nearly 9%. | Domestic sales jumped 45%, while overseas sales rose nearly 9%. |
| The company has been hit by three main safety problems - faulty accelerator pedals, accelerator pedals getting stuck in floor mats, and a problem with braking systems on its hybrid models. | The company has been hit by three main safety problems - faulty accelerator pedals, accelerator pedals getting stuck in floor mats, and a problem with braking systems on its hybrid models. |
| On Monday, Toyota said it had received subpoenas asking it to produce documents relating to the safety problems and the company's disclosure policies. | On Monday, Toyota said it had received subpoenas asking it to produce documents relating to the safety problems and the company's disclosure policies. |
| The subpoenas were served earlier this month by a federal grand jury in New York and by the US financial watchdog, the Securities and Exchange Commission. | |
| Media focus | |
| Mr Toyoda had initially said that he wished to stay in Japan and planned to send Yoshi Inaba, chief of Toyota's North America operations, to face Congress. | |
| But last week he signalled a change of heart and said he would testify, after the chairman of the House Oversight committee formally called for him to do so. | |
| Mr Toyoda, the grandson of the company's founder, will face tough questioning from the committee. He has been criticised for being too slow to react to the safety issues and for the company offering unclear explanations. | |
| His performance will be closely watched. It is not yet known whether he will speak in English or Japanese. | |
| He was criticised by the Japanese media earlier this month for not bowing deeply enough at a news conference arranged for him to say sorry for the recalls, leading to questions about the sincerity of his apology. |