Speaking for the first time since his company announced a massive recall involving millions of vehicles worldwide, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda offered an apology to all current Toyota customers. Toyota’s accelerator pedal-related recall now spans 4.2 million vehicles.
“I am deeply sorry,” Toyoda, the grandson of the automaker’s founder, told Japan’s NHK. Toyota’s massive recall sent shock waves through the industry late last week, followed by this week’s sales suspension. Toyota has halted sales and production of eight models.
Toyoda wouldn’t elaborate on when a solution for the recall might be available to customers and dealers, but did reassure the company was “still investigating” a viable fix. When asked how the recall might affect Toyota’s reputation for quality, Toyoda responded: “I would like for the people to trust us.”
Toyota has yet to officially address the public on the topic of the latest recall, but The Wall Street Journal reports the automaker will take out full-page newspaper ads in 25 cities next week to explain how they are handling the situation.
