Toyota just can’t get out of the headlines. Now more bad news as reported in the Los Angeles Times: Several Toyota workers sent a memo to their bosses in 2006 warning that the auto company was too focused on meeting demand rather than meeting safety standards (my paraphrase). The memo pointed out that from 2000 to 2005 Toyota recalled 36% of all vehicles they sold. This recall rate was higher than other car makers.
The memo went on to state that failure to act of these safety concerns could ”become a great problem that involves the company’s survival.” Finally, the memo said, ”We are concerned about the processes which are essential for producing safe cars, but that ultimately may be ignored, with production continued in the name of competition.”
The workers never received a response from management.
