Toyota recalls worldwide except in China
- Source: Global Times
- [16:44 January 28 2011]
- Comments
Japan's Toyota Motor announced Wednesday that it would recall 1.7 million vehicles worldwide with exception of the China market due to leak problems of engines.
The recall will include 1.284 million vehicles in the Japanese market and 4.21 million vehicles in North American, European, and other markets. However, in the company's largest market, the Chinese, no recall has been announced.
According to Niu Yu, spokesman of Toyota China, Toyota will recall the models CROWN, MARKX, Lexus GS300、GS350 (produced between 2006 and 2007), IS250 (produced between 2006 and 2009), and IS350 (produced between 2006-2008). However, the above listed models sold in the Chinese market are clear of the defects since they are not equipped with the problematic elements. And models such as Toyota Noah, Voxy, TOWNACE, and ITEACE were not imported into Chinese market.
Experts questioned the authenticity of the announcement. An automobile analyst said most of the Lexus units, a high-end model of Toyota, were produced in Japan.
"Although the Toyota cars sold in the Chinese mainland are more expensive than those sold in Taiwan, the products sold in the two regions are the same," an auto sales person said. Toyota already decided to recall 1,864 units of Lexus IS250 in Taiwan. But the same car models sold in the Chinese mainland were identified as zero-defect.
Since the end of 2009 to end of 2010, Toyota had already recalled nearly 16 million products. In contrast, Toyota's sales volume in China covers 10 percent of the total sales in the world. In 2010, Toyota sold 846,000 vehicles in China, with the whole sales volume that year of 8.42 million units.
What's the truth behind Toyota's words? Are Chinese customers that "lucky"?
The to-be-recalled Lexus IS250 (produced between 2006 and 2009) were officially introduced to the Chinese market in 2010.
Experts in the industry said Toyota has already infringed the rights of Chinese customers.
Toyota is not the only foreign "bully" in the Chinese auto market. BMW, Benz, Subaru, and other world-famous automakers also put the Chinese market last when recalling automobiles.
Being the largest auto market in the world, Chinese law in car recall area is still not perfect, which infringes customers' interests most than foreign "bullies."
