## Toyota to Oversee Model Certification at Daihatsu to Regain Trust
Following a safety testing scandal, Toyota will take a leadership role in various areas at its subsidiary Daihatsu, including product development and procurement. This move aims to regain trust among dealers, customers, and workers.
Masahiro Inoue, who took the helm of Daihatsu in March, stated that Toyota will oversee model certification at Daihatsu. He has been working to revive Daihatsu since taking over.
Inoue's predecessor resigned after allegations of widespread cheating on safety testing surfaced last year. A third-party review found violations, such as testing only one side of a car instead of both, had persisted for decades.
Production at Daihatsu was halted by a government order until proper tests can be done and a system set up to prevent a recurrence. Only some production has since resumed.
No major accidents have been reported in connection with the cheating, but the news has raised questions about oversight at Daihatsu. Inoue apologized and said he has visited plants, dealers, and suppliers to encourage better communication.
He acknowledged that trying to deliver products quickly to keep up with demand was one reason for the misconduct. Inoue emphasized that safety comes first before chasing market share.
Executive Vice President Masanori Kuwata, also from Toyota, said the basic way people work at Daihatsu must change. He hopes to restore positive energy among the ranks.
Daihatsu is known for smaller "kei" cars and off-road vehicles. The company is wholly owned by Toyota.