The Corolla has a worldwide problem?
Toyota Motor Corporation is in discussions with other governments or safety agencies about potential actions similar to the ones undertaken in the U.S. to correct defects in accelerator pedals, according to people close to the situation.
If a sales halt and plant shut downs occur in other regions, like the ones announced yesterday covering North America, it will make it harder for the world’s largest automaker to return to profitability.
It was not immediately clear if the modifications will affect only left-hand-drive models used in Europe, Africa and China, or include Asian right-hand-drive models.
Toyota has thus far not revealed the root cause of the problem, and previous assertions that acceleration issues was solely a floor mat issue in the U.S. have proved false.
There is a strong economic incentive at auto companies to try to limit the number of vehicles covered by a recall. In the Toyota pedal matter, expensive mechanical, computer and software fixes are required.
Either way, millions upon millions more cars, pickup trucks and SUVs potentially will require repairs, with unknown effects on Toyota’s new vehicle sales, owner loyalty and reputation.
Toyota is predicting a sales increase to 8.27 million units globally for this calendar year, up 6% from, 7.81 million in 2009, which represented a 13% decline from 2008.
In North American, 2.3 million vehicles are — thus far — covered for sticking accelerator pedals in the latest recall that was announced on Monday by Toyota Motor Sales, a subsidiary of TMC. Included in the recall is the Corolla model, the best selling nameplate in the world.
It is also not clear, if there is a sizable population of vehicles outside of North America with a separate or perhaps related problem with runaway acceleration. In North America, 4.2 million vehicles are impacted by a a previous floor mat recall.
The beleaguered Japanese maker has asked owners of those vehicles to remove floor mats, which it says can inadvertently interfere with the throttle. Severely fatalities have occurred because of this safety related defect. In the U.S., dealers are preparing to begin repairs, which will include the replacement of the gas pedal and, on some models, the installation of a digital controller to prevent a driver from inadvertently activating both throttle and brake simultaneously.
More details to follow…