Toyota CEO to Speak at US Congressional Hearings

Toyota Motor President Akio Toyoda will speak at U.S. congressional hearings on his company’s massive recall and all information related to defects, Japanese media reports said yesterday.

This is considered a more aggressive response to rebuild trust in the world’s largest auto market given lingering criticism over the recall. Toyoda had held two news conferences in Japan to apologize for the debacle.

At the congressional hearings, he will present a detailed explanation on the quality problem that caused the massive recall and express an apology to American consumers.

The House of Representatives will hold hearings Feb. 24-25 and the Senate will hold one March 2.

Toyota initially planned to send its North American head to the hearings, but given congressional pressure and the public backlash in the U.S., its CEO will go.

Certain congressmen are said to have requested that Toyoda directly answer all questions on the defects at the hearings through various channels.

jkmas@donga.com