(Wed 17 Feb 10)

No doubt feeling the bruises on its reputation after recent media outcries about recalls (though it is hardly the only manufacturer to have recalled cars, which is a more common thing than people seem to realise), Toyota has made an announcement about how it will pay closer attention to safety and quality issues in future.

There are some general points and some specific ones. The most specific is that Toyota intends to add a brake over-ride system to all its models; this system will cut engine power if the driver presses the brake and accelerator problems at the same time. Toyota has also tested its electronic throttle control system "under extremes of electromagnetic interference, vibration and other adverse conditions" and has "conclusively verified that the system cannot accidentally induce acceleration". However, to forestall the possibility of a "well they would say that, wouldn't they?" reaction, Toyota has commissioned an (un-named) independent research organisation to conduct similar testing, and has pledged to release the findings of that organisation when they become available.

In a move which is less directly related to safety, Toyota says it is going to make more use of on-board data recorders. These have been common in motorsport for many years, and have long since reached the point where detailed information about how a race car is running can be beamed straight to the pits. It's unlikely that a road application would ever need to be quite so complex, but Toyota's idea is that the recorders will be able to provide information to support technical investigations and repairs back at the dealership.

More generally, Toyota will appoint a Chief Quality Officer for each principal geographic region around the world "to help make the company more alert to customer concerns", and will be improving its system of receiving customer feedback so that it leads more quickly to an increase in the quality of its products.

Comment on this story on Facebook or Twitter.

Toyota Gallery
Toyota Road Tests

Previous: Best And Worst For Braking                             Next: Lotus Improves The Elise