Toyota head won't attend U.S. hearing / Prius repairs moving ahead of schedule

The Yomiuri Shimbun

Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda said Wednesday that he will not attend a Toyota-related U.S. Congressional hearing.

The company also said the process of repairing recalled hybrid model Prius cars has been going well in Japan and at a pace exceeding the company's expectations.

Toyoda said he has no plans at this stage to attend the hearing at the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Toyota's large-scale vehicle recalls in the United States.

"I'd consider appearing if I was asked to do so by Congress," Toyoda said.

However, some members of Congress are keen for the committee to demand that Toyoda attend the hearing.

Toyoda said Toyota Motor North America, Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer Yoshimi Inaba would appear at the hearing. "I'll fully support him from Tokyo," he said.

Toyota plans to apply to all future models worldwide a brake-override system that cuts engine power when the accelerator and brake pedals are applied simultaneously, Toyoda said.

The system will include onboard data recorders, which can, in the event of malfunction, provide information that would prove essential in such activities as investigations and repairs.

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