Toyota chief briefs Hatoyama, vows to improve quality control

Toyota chief briefs Hatoyama, vows to improve quality control

TOKYO, Japan - Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda (C), accompanied by Vice President Shinichi Sasaki (L), meets with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on March 8, 2010. Toyoda promised to improve quality control to regain consumer confidence in the automaker.

Toyota Motor president denies safety risk coverup

Toyota Motor president denies safety risk coverup

TOKYO, Japan - Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda (R) speaks about the automaker's massive global recalls at a news conference with Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki in Tokyo on Feb. 17, 2010.

Toyota Motor president denies safety risk coverup

Toyota Motor president denies safety risk coverup

TOKYO, Japan - Toyota Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki (L) and President Akio Toyoda (2nd from L) attend a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 17, 2010, at which Toyoda denied accusations that the company had attempted to cover up a recent spate of safety problems and promised to take measures to reinforce quality control.

Toyota probing Prius brake problem in response to complaints

Toyota probing Prius brake problem in response to complaints

TOKYO, Japan - Toyota Motor Corp.'s Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki responds to questions from reporters at the transport ministry in Tokyo on Feb. 3, 2010, after meeting with transport minister Seiji Maehara. Company officials said Toyota has received dozens of complaints concerning the brakes of the latest model of its popular Prius hybrid car in Japan and North America and has launched a probe into the matter as instructed by the Japanese government.

Toyota offers apology, defends recall response as customer-first

Toyota offers apology, defends recall response as customer-first

NAGOYA, Japan - Toyota Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki (L) speaks about the company's massive recall during a press conference in Nagoya on Feb. 2, 2010. Sasaki, in charge of quality and customs service operations, offered an apology to customers for the recall that could reach up to 4.45 million vehicles worldwide over potentially defective accelerator pedals.

Toyota offers apology, defends recall response as customer-first

Toyota offers apology, defends recall response as customer-first

NAGOYA, Japan - Toyota Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki speaks about the company's massive recall during a press conference in Nagoya on Feb. 2, 2010. Sasaki, in charge of quality and customs service operations, offered an apology to customers for the recall that could reach up to 4.45 million vehicles worldwide over potentially defective accelerator pedals.

Toyota offers apology, defends recall response as customer-first

Toyota offers apology, defends recall response as customer-first

NAGOYA, Japan - Toyota Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki speaks about the company's massive recall during a press conference in Nagoya on Feb. 2, 2010. Sasaki, in charge of quality and customs service operations, offered an apology to customers for the recall that could reach up to 4.45 million vehicles worldwide over potentially defective accelerator pedals.

Toyota offers apology, defends recall response as customer-first

Toyota offers apology, defends recall response as customer-first

NAGOYA, Japan - Toyota Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki speaks about the company's massive recall during a press conference in Nagoya on Feb. 2, 2010. Sasaki, in charge of quality and customs service operations, offered an apology to customers for the recall that could reach up to 4.45 million vehicles worldwide over potentially defective accelerator pedals.

Toyota offers apology, defends recall response as customer-first

Toyota offers apology, defends recall response as customer-first

NAGOYA, Japan - Toyota Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki speaks about the company's massive recall during a press conference in Nagoya on Feb. 2, 2010. Sasaki, in charge of quality and customs service operations, offered an apology to customers for the recall that could reach up to 4.45 million vehicles worldwide over potentially defective accelerator pedals. (Kyodo)

Toyota offers apology, defends recall response as customer-first

Toyota offers apology, defends recall response as customer-first

NAGOYA, Japan - Toyota Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki speaks about the company's massive recall during a press conference in Nagoya on Feb. 2, 2010. Sasaki, in charge of quality and customs service operations, offered an apology to customers for the recall that could reach up to 4.45 million vehicles worldwide over potentially defective accelerator pedals. (Kyodo)

Toyota offers apology, defends recall response as customer-first

Toyota offers apology, defends recall response as customer-first

NAGOYA, Japan - Toyota Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki speaks about the company's massive recall during a press conference in Nagoya on Feb. 2, 2010. Sasaki, in charge of quality and customs service operations, offered an apology to customers for the recall that could reach up to 4.45 million vehicles worldwide over potentially defective accelerator pedals. (Kyodo)

Toyota chief briefs Hatoyama, vows to improve quality control

Toyota chief briefs Hatoyama, vows to improve quality control

TOKYO, Japan - Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda (C), accompanied by Vice President Shinichi Sasaki (L), meets with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on March 8, 2010. Toyoda promised to improve quality control to regain consumer confidence in the automaker. (Kyodo)

Toyota probing Prius brake problem in response to complaints

Toyota probing Prius brake problem in response to complaints

TOKYO, Japan - Toyota Motor Corp.'s Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki responds to questions from reporters at the transport ministry in Tokyo on Feb. 3, 2010, after meeting with transport minister Seiji Maehara. Company officials said Toyota has received dozens of complaints concerning the brakes of the latest model of its popular Prius hybrid car in Japan and North America and has launched a probe into the matter as instructed by the Japanese government. (Kyodo)

Toyota offers apology, defends recall response as customer-first

Toyota offers apology, defends recall response as customer-first

NAGOYA, Japan - Toyota Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki (L) speaks about the company's massive recall during a press conference in Nagoya on Feb. 2, 2010. Sasaki, in charge of quality and customs service operations, offered an apology to customers for the recall that could reach up to 4.45 million vehicles worldwide over potentially defective accelerator pedals. (Kyodo)

Toyota Motor president denies safety risk coverup

Toyota Motor president denies safety risk coverup

TOKYO, Japan - Toyota Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki (L) and President Akio Toyoda (2nd from L) attend a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 17, 2010, at which Toyoda denied accusations that the company had attempted to cover up a recent spate of safety problems and promised to take measures to reinforce quality control. (Kyodo)

Toyota Motor president denies safety risk coverup

Toyota Motor president denies safety risk coverup

TOKYO, Japan - Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda (R) speaks about the automaker's massive global recalls at a news conference with Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki in Tokyo on Feb. 17, 2010. (Kyodo)