Investigators Raid Toyota HQ in Vehicle Safety Data Scandal

Toyota’s headquarters in Tokyo have been raided by Japanese transport ministry officials investigating the scandal of the automaker's flawed vehicle safety data.

BBC News reports the world's largest carmaker has apologized for providing incorrect or manipulated data for safety certification tests on certain models both still in production and some now discontinued over a span of several years.

The scandal also involves certification reports from fellow Japanese manufacturers including Honda, Mazda, Suzuki and Yamaha Motorcycles, all of which also admit to submitting faulty data.

Toyota says the findings so far do not affect the safety of vehicles already on the road and has suspended the production of three of its popular models, the Corolla Fielder, Corolla Axio and Yaris Cross.

The automaker is also accused of using modified vehicles during safety collision tests of some vehicles that are no longer in production.

Investigators raided Toyota’s premises a day after chairman Akio Toyoda apologizes to customers and car enthusiasts. In a company statement he says: “The investigation is still ongoing, but it identified that seven models, including those that have already ended production since 2014, were tested using methods that differ from the standards defined by the national authorities, and we reported this to the Ministry on May 31.

“This matter involves two companies, Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor East Japan. As the person responsible for the Toyota Group, I would like to extend my sincere apologies to our customers, car enthusiasts, and all stakeholders for this issue, following Hino, Daihatsu, and Toyota Industries Corporation. I am truly sorry. We neglected the certification process and mass produced our cars without first taking the proper precautionary steps.”

In December 2023, Toyota-owned carmaker Daihatsu closed all of its factories for more than a month, after admitting that it had falsified safety tests. Some of the cars were sold with Toyota branding. Daihatsu compensated more than 400 domestic suppliers during the period where its plants were idle.