Chinese less informed on recalls
- Source: Global Times
- [10:18 February 11 2010]
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A Toyota Prius car arrives at a garage Tuesday to have its software reprogrammed in Isleworth, London. Toyota has announced a worldwide recall of its Prius model due to safety concerns over braking issues. Some 8,500 cars are affected in the UK. Photo: Getty
By Chen Xiaomin
Toyota is being hit hard by a storm of criticism stemming from the US and now China – its top two markets – following massive automobile recalls in recent weeks.
The Japanese automaker has pulled 8.5 million vehicles off the roads as a result of sticking accelerator pedals and braking problems.
But in a sharp contrast to media reports out of the US, voices of leniency and softened tones have emerged in China on the issue, with some people going as far as highlighting the massive safety recalls as a sign of "responsible business operations."
However, some auto industry analysts in China, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Global Times Wednesday Agenciesthat certain media practitioners in the country have sacrificed impartiality in their reporting, bowing instead to requests by influential multinational corporations.
In the wake of the recalls, Chinese consumers face increasing exposure to design and manufacturing faults, due to weak quality assurance measures on the mainland, analysts warned Wednesday.
The latest blow to consumer safety and confidence came Wednesday as the Honda Motor Company said it would recall 438,000 cars globally to replace an airbag inflator that can reportedly injure drivers during a crash.
Additionally, US authorities said Tuesday that they were reviewing complaints by Toyota Corolla owners about steering problems. Toyota made no immediate comment on the fresh claims.
More than 75,000 of Toyota's RAV4 SUVs are among the recalled models in China, but none of the defective Honda models are yet sold in the country.
Belated apologies by Toyota president Akio Toyoda amid the safety crisis seemed to pale in the face of angered consumers in the US, as members of Congress alleged that Toyota knew about the "sticky accelerators" for years but was slow to respond until it was forced into action by US transportation safety authorities.
