The following passage was meant to be posted yesterday, but due to a combination of human error and connectivity problems, it was not. So, I was obviously not happy to have to dump the post on account of it being a day late. But, then I thought being that it was intended to forecast how yesterday’s Toyota Recall hearing would unfold, it might still be relevant. Sure enough, news coverage of the proceedings were pretty much saying what I (and probably most of you) had expected. Read for yourself and tell me if I was on point, and also let me know if you were surprised by anything said yesterday or later today too.
The congressional hearing addressing the ongoing Toyota recalls, and specifically addressing the problem of sudden acceleration experienced by a number of Toyota drivers, begins today in Washington, DC. The Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will both get an opportunity to question Toyota representatives as well as federal regulators this week.
While most people can probably predict how the hearings will unfold – Congressional representatives will make grand statements about Toyota’s irresponsibility, NHTSA experts will claim they’ve been on top of the issue from the beginning or blame the Bush administration for a slow response, and Toyota will pretty much reiterate what’s written in testimony prepared for USA sales chief, James Lentz – there is still expected to be tension. The suspense mounted as Toyota President Akio Toyoda refused to attend himself before eventually backtracking, and was further exacerbated by the disclosure that Toyota has been served two federal subpoenas related to recalls, leaving open the possibility of criminal charges. It’s not that surprising for an air of animosity to surround a hearing where representatives of a foreign manufacturer are being questioned by members of a government which threatens prosecution and owns large stakes in two of the company’s main US competitors. But, these issues may not be the main cause of contention at the hearing.
The Energy and Commerce Committee seems intent on pursuing the possibility that the problem causing the acceleration has not actually been resolved, proposing that electronic throttle control systems are at fault, and not the infamous “sticky pedals”. This is something that Toyota owners who’ve already had dealers make repairs don’t want to hear and something that Toyota continues to deny. The NHTSA, which has it’s own reputation at stake, has not ruled out this possibility and has also promised to look at other causes, including electromagnetic interference and software anomalies. Toyota has invested boatloads of money on vehicle repairs as well as to its reputation, and will find it pretty difficult to cash in if people believe that their cars are no safer now than before the recall. Can someone say DRAMA!
Besides the announcement that Toyota will be installing Brake overides in millions of new vehicles and in compatitible models already on the road, nothing that wasn’t already in the open came out of the session. Was anyone surprised that electronic throttle controls were of main concern or that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the man held accountable for the NHSTA, seems to have Toyota’s back? I doubt many of you were, but there’s still time for new revelations, as Akio Toyoda is set to be questioned today. Being that he basically tried to duck this interrogation, committee members may try to make things particularly difficult for Toyoda.
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