News Daihatsu halts all shipping over safety scandal

[thomas]

Toyota Motor Corp. subsidiary Daihatsu Motor Co. announced yesterday that a third-party investigative team confirmed widespread falsified tests on 64 vehicle models and three engines, widening a scandal far more profound than initially suspected.

In a news conference held that day, the investigative team said some test-rigging cases can be traced back 34 years. Daihatsu's engineers "were under enormous pressure with an extremely tight schedule," said Makoto Kaiami, who heads the team. The investigative team, launched in May with members including outside lawyers, published a report on the same day on a series of test-rigging scandals by the manufacturer that came to light earlier this year.

The company said in May that it also found problems with testing for its Rocky sport utility vehicle and the Toyota Raize, which Daihatsu makes for its parent. Production of the Rocky and the Raize already have been suspended. The independent probe, which lasted nearly eight months, is believed to have uncovered flawed emissions and other environmental data as well. Daihatsu produced over 1.7 million vehicles worldwide in fiscal 2022. Around half were made in Japan, including in Osaka and Shiga prefectures. It holds a roughly 30% market share for kei cars, making it an industry leader along with rival Suzuki Motor.

Daihatsu halts all shipping after rigging safety tests of vehicles | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

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Toyota unit Daihatsu to stop shipping all models over safety scandal

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