Lawmakers question Toyota's efforts on acceleration problems

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Chicago Tribune

Automaker more focused on image than safety, some congressmen say

By Jim Puzzanghera

House lawmakers Thursday said Toyota Motor Corp. still had not done the necessary testing to determine the cause of sudden-unintended-acceleration problems in its vehicles and had been more concerned about its image than addressing the issue.

Toyota has said it was confident electronics were not causing vehicles to speed up suddenly, a point repeated in congressional testimony Thursday by its top U.S. sales executive, who said a "comprehensive evaluation" of the problem is being conducted.

But Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said that his panel's investigation had raised serious questions about the scope of Toyota's efforts.

"Toyota has repeatedly told the public that it has conducted extensive testing of its vehicles for electronic defects. We can find no basis for these assertions," Waxman said at a hearing.


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