Toyota admits to cheating on vehicle certifications,
halts shipments of three models
June 3 (UPI) -- Toyota Motor Corp. admitted on Monday that it cheated to get vehicle certifications for seven models through bogus safety tests, striking a blow against Japan's automotive industry.
The admittance adds Toyota to the list of Japanese auto companies hit by misconduct, including Honda, Mazda, Suzuki, and Yamaha. The country's Transport Ministry said it will perform on-site inspections at Toyota for possible administrative action.
Toyota said four of the seven of the models had already been discontinued while the ministry instructed the company to halt shipments of the remaining three -- the Corolla Fielder, Corolla Axio and Yaris Cross.
It said, however, there were "no performance issues that contravene laws and regulations" so affected vehicles can still be used.
The company said the certifications involved data in pedestrian and occupant protection tests for those three vehicles, adding it found errors in crash tests and other testing methods for the discontinued Crown, Isis, Sienta and RX models.
"We mass-produced and sold cars without following the correct certification process," Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda said during a press conference.
"The misconducts shook the foundation of the certification system and that was what automakers were not supposed to do no matter what."
Approximately 1.7 million Toyota vehicles were impacted by the scandal.
Mazda reported 150,000 and 7,000 vehicles, while Honda said 4.35 million were impacted and Suzuki reported 26,000, although the latter two said all of the impacted models had already been discontinued.
"We sincerely apologize for any concern or inconvenience this may cause to our customers and stakeholders who have placed their trust in Toyota," the Japanese auto giant said in a statement.
"We take it seriously that the problem was discovered at Toyota following the recent discovery of certification issues at Hino Motors, Ltd. and Daihatsu Motor Co. and Toyota Industries."
Some Canadian politicians are ‘wittingly’
participating in foreign interference: watchdog
An unknown number of federal politicians are knowingly working with hostile countries to interfere in Canada’s democracy, according to a national security committee of parliament.
The startling revelation came from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ (NSICOP) latest report into foreign meddling in Canada’s democratic institutions, including by countries like China, India and Iran.
It also found that the People’s Republic of China “successfully” interfered in the 2019 Liberal nomination contest in Don Valley North, which had a “significant impact” on Han Dong being selected as the party’s candidate.
The committee reviewed top-secret intelligence reports that suggested sitting parliamentarians are “witting or semi-witting” participants in foreign interference operations, including divulging secrets to foreign governments.
“Some (of the activities) may be illegal, but are unlikely to lead to criminal charges, owing to Canada’s failure to address the long-standing issue of protecting classified information and methods in judicial processes,” the report read.
“Regardless, all the behaviours are deeply unethical and, the committee would submit, contrary to the oaths and affirmations Parliamentarians take to conduct themselves in the best interests of Canada.”
The committee pointed to several activities the undisclosed number of parliamentarians are allegedly engaged in, including soliciting political support from foreign missions, accepting money or favours from diplomats and revealing their colleagues’ positions on issues so that foreign operatives can pressure them.
In one case, a parliamentarian allegedly provided confidential government information to “a known intelligence officer of a foreign state.”
It’s not clear if the parliamentarians are MPs, senators or some combination of both.
Asked why the politicians haven’t faced repercussions for their alleged actions, NSICOP Chair David McGuinty called it a “fantastic question.”
“We don’t know what is going on inside the RCMP in terms of its work in this regard,” McGuinty said in an interview with Global, suggesting the national police force may be investigating the alleged actions.
“It’s a highly problematic concern that the committee came face to face with. We have put in this review everything that we can from a transparency perspective.”
The 92-page report was drawn from more than 4,000 documents as well as interviews with senior intelligence officials, public servants and cabinet ministers, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
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