Toyota Boss Reverses Course, Will Address Congress Next Week
By Bill Visnic February 18, 2010After initially saying he would let executives from the company's U.S. operations handle appearances at two separate hearings in the U.S. Congress next week, Toyota Motor Corp. president and CEO Akio Toyoda abruptly changed course and announced he will put in a personal appearance.
Two House of Representatives committees will stage hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday next week regarding Toyota's high-profile -- and some say alarming -- recalls for sticking accelerator pedals and floor mats that have the potential to cause "unintended acceleration" in millions of Toyota vehicles.
Earlier in the week, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform -- whose hearing is on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Eastern time -- invited Toyoda to appear at its hearing. Toyoda declined, as he also had for a Senate hearing scheduled for March 2.
But now Toyoda -- the grandson of the company's founder who became president and CEO in January, 2009 -- confirms he will appear at the House Oversight Committee's hearing next week.
Dow Jones reported Toyoda told journalists in Japan he wants to explain Toyota's position "in all sincerity" to the Congress and looks forward to "speaking directly with Congress and the American people."
There was no word on whether Toyoda plans to also appear at the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on March 2. -- Bill Visnic, senior editor
LEAVE A COMMENT