In Congress, Toyota Chief Takes ‘Full Responsibility’
by Micheline Maynard by Quinn Ricketts
Summary:
On February 24 the CEO of Toyota came to address the recall of tons of Toyota cars. Mr. Toyoda took full responsibility for the recalls in his opening statement. At first congress was nice because of Toyoda coming but they later became more and more angry. One person asked why Mr. Toyoda was not wholly sympathetic. They also learned that the incidents that led to the recall were happening in Europe and the U.S. was not properly warned. Toyota was also found to boast how they saved money on the recalls. Then Mr. Toyoda said that Toyota would try to get better quality vehicles.
Questions:
1. Would you have acted the same way as the CEO did?
2. Do you agree with the CEO?
3. What would you do if you were the secretary of transportation?
My answers:
1. If I was the CEO I would have made a better plan than just improve quality and really seem sympathetic for the people who died because of Toyota cars.
2. I agree with him to make cars with more quality and much safer.
3. I would read complaints and inspect cars that people are driving with more care than ever.
Connection To Class:
This connects to class because we learned about the industrial revolution and how the first assembly line were created to make cars faster. With the recall of Toyota cars they will probably have to change their assembly lines for more quality.
Comments (7)
Zalman G said
at 2:27 pm on Feb 26, 2010
1. I would have acted a little differently as the CEO. Really the only thing I would have done differently was to warn the US of the imminent shipment defected machines. The Americans wouldn't have bought them, and the recall wouldn't have been necessary.
2. I agree with him in the fact that they will start to maker higher-quality cars, but I don't fully believe him when he says he takes full responsibility. I don't think he was being fully sincere.
3. I would have fined Toyota for a significant amount of money, and I would have sent out government employees to supervise the situation.
Aidan W. said
at 2:39 pm on Feb 26, 2010
1 I would have acted the same way as the ceo i would have kept quiet unless the public had asked for and explination
2 yes i do agree with the the ceo of toyota it was a smart idea to apologize to the public about the recalls in hand considering the fact that most likely all of those cars were made in America.
3 I would have looked over and have the assembly lines in very state that the crashes occurred or where the car was from and if nothing popped up i'd check a again.
Nicolas f said
at 10:37 am on Feb 27, 2010
1.) yes beause he has to make money is mass amounts and he took the risk and he knew it was risky so the dice rolled and luck was not on his side.
2.) he took responsabilaty for what he did and we have no right to critasize him he like everyone else has a job and must hush things down when there are isolated incedents and he promised to make higher qualety cars in outhere words he uses a new design and sells the car for more because he told the public it was "high quality"
3.) i would try to make it so that any new car has to be througthly tested by the US before it is allowed to be sold (not every car but every new module/type of car)
Philip C. said
at 1:22 pm on Feb 28, 2010
1. Well it is better to be honest then a liar. Keeping quiet I think is a bad option. If the public finds out, you are pretty much done. Then I would have made a better plan to improve the quality of the cars, so their will never be a recall again.
2. I actually agree because the car's quality and safety is important in this economy today.
3. I will be in outrage, but must take swift action so this will never happen again.
Emma N said
at 2:20 pm on Feb 28, 2010
1) I would have done many things the same, for instance: the promises of repairs and the apologizing. However, I would have acted much more sympathetically towards the families that were put through this awful experience. Those who scorned his lack of sympathy to the ones who died are right in being upset.
2) I don't agree with some of the things he said. They claim that "Toyota cars are safe." But how can it be safe if people are dying and Toyota is taking back so many of these vehicles?
3) If I were the secretary of transportation, I would work as fast as possible with Toyota. Although it must be tough to work with a fallen-from-grace company, Toyota can still fix the problems with their cars and get people driving again. Once they do, LaHood will want to be on good terms with them.
George J said
at 2:29 pm on Mar 1, 2010
1. I would do the same thing Mr. Toyoda did. He could not do much more he truly apologized to the victims families and he admitted that it was his fault.
2. I agree that he is going to make all the Toyota cars more safe for the driver.
3. If I was the secretary of transportation, I would check the cars that had problems thoroughly before putting them on the market for sale again.
Jack A said
at 5:14 pm on Mar 1, 2010
1. I would have done the same thing because he apologized and admitted it was his fault so I'm not sure what else he could do at this point.
2. I agree with his idea of making new cars safer.
3. I would check the cars much more in-depthly and really listen to what people believe are the faults of the vehicles.
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