While the Daihatsu brand scandal is still ongoing, Toyota is facing another issue. According to Reuters, Toyota has announced that it will halt production of certain models, including Fortuner and Innova, after discovering some irregularities in diesel engine certification tests conducted by its subsidiary, Toyota Industries.
A special investigation committee has found abnormalities in the power output testing process for the certification of Toyota’s three diesel engine models. The world’s best-selling automaker says that 10 vehicle models using these three diesel engines are affected globally, including Fortuner, Innova, Toyota Hiace van, Toyota Hilux pickup truck, and the rugged Land Cruiser 300 Series SUV, as well as the Lexus LX500D.
Toyota is currently addressing a separate case involving misconduct in Daihatsu’s safety crash tests. Toyota says it is working closely with relevant authorities to explain the issue in detail. The company also plans to conduct certification tests on new engines with the presence of regulatory agencies, if required.
At a press conference held in Japan, Koichi Ito, President of Toyota Industries, explained that the cause of this issue was a lack of communication with the Toyota group and inadequate coordination of test procedures.
Toyota Industries has stated that it has sold around 84,000 affected diesel engines in the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2023. Speaking to reporters on January 29, 2024, Toyota’s Chief Operating Officer, Koji Sato, revealed that the company is affected by 36,000 engines per month globally, equivalent to 432,000 engines per year. However, Toyota’s spokesperson could not immediately provide the number of affected vehicles sold in previous years.
In Japan, production has been temporarily suspended at 6 assembly lines across 4 plants. The company has confirmed that both the engines and vehicles affected meet the performance standards.
The special investigation committee found that electronic control units used in the power output testing process were different from those used in the production of the engines. Initially, Toyota’s investigation focused on certification regulations related to emissions performance for forklift engines and construction machinery. The special investigation committee also confirmed misconduct in this area.
The Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism plans to conduct on-site investigations at Toyota Industries’ Hekinan plant in Aichi Prefecture, where the company produces automotive and industrial engines, on January 30, 2024.
Toyota currently holds nearly 25% of Toyota Industries’ shares. Conversely, the supplier also owns about 8% of Toyota’s shares. Toyota Industries itself is a key subsidiary of the Toyota Group.
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