Toyota Halts Shipment of Some Vehicles Over Certification Issues

Toyota has suspended shipments of some of its models including the Hilux and Land Cruiser 300 after irregularities were found in certification tests for diesel engines developed by affiliate Toyota Industries.

A special investigative committee had found irregularities during horsepower output testing for the certification of three diesel engine models. Toyota announced in a statement that Toyota Industries had been tasked with developing the engines. Toyota Industries President Koichi Ito said at a press conference:

“There was a lack of communication with Toyota Motor and not enough coordination about testing processes and procedures that should have been followed.”

Toyota Industries said it sold about 84,000 affected automobile diesel engines during the financial year to 31st March 2023. A Toyota spokesperson could not immediately say how many affected vehicles the automaker had sold over the years but confirmed that the investigation had found that electronic control units used during horsepower output testing were different from those used during engine production.

The Japanese automaker said it sought to thoroughly explain the matter to authorities and would take measures such as running new engine certification tests in the presence of regulators as needed. Toyota said that nearly 10 models use the affected engines globally, including 6 in Japan. These models in addition to the aforementioned Hilux and LC 300, include the Hiace van, Fortuner SUV, Innova MPV, and Lexus-branded LX500D SUV.

Japan’s transport ministry said it would shortly conduct an on-site investigation of Toyota Industries’ Hekinan plant in central Aichi prefecture where the company makes automotive and industrial engines. Toyota’s investigation initially focused on certification regulations relating to the emissions performance of forklift and construction machinery engines, which the special investigative committee also confirmed misdoing.

The automaker holds a nearly 25% stake in Toyota Industries, which is a key Toyota group company. The supplier in turn owns about 8% of Toyota shares itself. Shares in Toyota Industries sank 6% shortly after the news.

This is another blow to Toyota, the world’s biggest automaker by sales, which has been separately seeking to resolve a case of misconduct related to rigged collision safety tests at its wholly-owned company Daihatsu. Toyota also found itself caught in hot waters when another of its company Hino was found falsifying emissions data for over 20 years.

Source: Reuters