[Auto] Toyota suspends exports of the Yaris Cross to Chile due to scandal at Daihatsu

[FNX Magokiler]

In April of this year, a serious fraud was uncovered involving Toyota and its low-cost parent company, Daihatsu, which as we know today is a company completely owned by the Toyota Group. The scandal was revealed after Toyota admitted tampering with 76,000 units of the new Yaris, so that any of these units, if chosen, could pass safety tests in side impacts.

The drama does not originate exactly with Toyota, but with Daihatsu, who are in charge of developing the DNGA platform, the low-cost variant of Toyota's TNGA base, designed for compact vehicles and which lay the foundations for the new Yaris Sedan. , of the Raize, Yaris Cross and several other models. The worst thing was that two weeks later, serious irregularities appeared in the side crash test certification processes for the Toyota Raize HEV and its twin, the Daihatsu Rocky HEV.

The tips of the iceberg

These two incidents led to a complete investigation in the hands of a committee, which concluded yesterday and focused on the search for similar cases, in order to identify the root of the problems within Daihatsu. The saying goes "he who seeks, finds" and of course, the scandal is very serious because irregularities were found in 174 items (28 cases of mani[CENSORED]tion and inappropriate adjustment, 143 cases of false statements and 3 cases of data mani[CENSORED]tion), within of 25 types of tests, which affect 64 models and three engines, which are marketed under the Daihatsu brand, but which are also supplied as OEM units to Toyota, Mazda, Subaru and Perodua.

 

 

The problems range from lack of certification to adulteration of data and tests, not to mention other defects such as airbags that were not tested with their original ECUs (or deployed remotely), locked doors, defects in the interior door moldings. (they could cause serious damage when released and combined with the deployment of the side airbag) and sharp points on door panels, which were filed in test vehicles.

The document, made official by Daihatsu, indicates the investigation process, including the examination of materials, 327 interviews, digital investigation of 37 executives and employees, a questionnaire answered by 3,642 employees, the opening of a communication channel with the investigation committee , the review of safety documents and certificates, in addition to a complete inspection of the plants involved.

The reasons given by the investigation are given for different reasons, including serious administrative and hierarchical problems, a very rigid development agenda that some employees insisted on complying with regardless of the problems discovered, and problems with Daihatsu's organizational culture. Heads are going to roll...

And since this is not solved once...
Toyota and Daihatsu will temporarily suspend all exports of the models involved, at least those in production. This is very delicate because not only production is delayed, but also commitments with dealers, distributors and suppliers. It is curious that in Chile it only affects the new Yaris Cross, considering that the Raize and the Yaris are also sold here. We will have to wait for more information from Toyota Chile.

If you have a model in reserve, we regret to tell you that this model may not arrive on time.

The list of models is very long and especially affects several markets. Here we will only mention the affected export models (current production) in the plants that presented problems.

 

https://noticias.autocosmos.cl/2023/12/21/toyota-suspende-las-exportaciones-del-yaris-cross-a-chile-por-escandalo-en-daihatsu