Toyota to face questions from US committee

The head of Toyota faces angry US politicians today in an attempt to limit even more damage to the company over its safety recall of millions of cars.

Chief executive Akio Toyoda said he accepted "full responsibility" for the confused delays in telling the public about the faults. He said the company grew too fast to keep up with safety controls.

"We pursued growth over the speed at which we were able to develop our people and our organisation," Mr Toyoda said in evidence prepared for today's hearing.

"I regret that this has resulted in the safety issues described in the recalls we face today, and I am deeply sorry for any accidents that Toyota drivers have experienced."

Mr Toyoda's three-page statement departs from Japanese formality. In it, he makes a personal appeal for credibility. He offered his condolences for the deaths of a Californian family of four when their Toyota crashed last year.

"I will do everything in my power to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again," he will tell the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

"My name is on every car. You have my personal commitment that Toyota will work vigorously and unceasingly to restore the trust of our customers."

But an apology will not be enough for the panel of politicians in a year in which every one faces re-election. Nor will any culture gap; Japanese chief executives typically serve symbolic roles akin to figureheads without much power to control operations.

Politicians indicated they would continue to push Mr Toyoda for answers on whether its cars and trucks were safe to drive.

The Transportation Department's vehicle safety division also faces continued questions over whether it took the problem seriously enough and paid attention to warnings signs with Toyotas long before the recalls.

Toyota has recalled 8.5 million vehicles worldwide - more than six million in the US - since last autumn because of unintended acceleration problems in multiple models and braking issues in the Prius hybrid. It is also investigating steering concerns in Corollas.

Owners have complained of their vehicles speeding out of control despite efforts to slow down, sometimes resulting in deadly crashes. The government has received complaints of 34 deaths linked to sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles since 2000.

Congressional panels are asking whether computerised modern automotive electronics designed to make cars more efficient can sometimes make them less safe.

Meanwhile today the Japanese government announced its own investigation into 38 complaints about sudden acceleration in Toyotas.