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Toyota vows to improve vehicle safety after 'major crisis'

Toyota Motor Corp. vowed Friday to strengthen oversight of vehicle safety certifications to prevent a repeat of a recent problem with improper testing.

شركة تويوتا موتور تتعهدت بتحسين سلامة المركبات بعد "أزمة كبرى"

Japan's largest automaker outlined measures it would take, including increasing management involvement, assigning more staff to certification duties and clarifying the responsibilities of certain positions such as chief engineer.


The report on the company has been submitted to the Japanese government, which rebuked Toyota last month.


Two months ago, Toyota Motor Corp. admitted to widespread testing fraud, including using insufficient or outdated data in crash tests and incorrect airbag inflation tests and engine power tests.


Akio Toyoda, Toyota's chairman and grandson of the automaker's founder, apologized.


The gaffe does not affect the safety of vehicles already on the road, which include the popular Corolla minivan and Lexus luxury cars.


But it was a major embarrassment for a company that prides itself on empowering its workers to ensure quality control.


Toyota has halted production of some models.


Japanese media reports have speculated that the scandal will cut Toyota's annual global production by about 500,000 vehicles.


Toyota sells 11 million vehicles worldwide annually.


After the initial revelations, Toyota found more fraud, including in safety certification tests related to pedestrian protection, side impacts and steering impact.


Toyota said in a statement: "There were many areas to improve the basis of the safety certification process, such as the data management system and the establishment of regulations and procedures for certification processes."


A Japanese government investigation into Toyota began in January, and the case does not affect overseas production.

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