LaHood Warns Toyota on Safety During Visit

As the problems Japanese manufacturer Toyota had to face in the recent months seem to fade away, the US appears to be determined not to let the carmaker forget both its commitments in terms of safety and the penalties and public disgrace it had to face.

During a visit to the Toyota HQ, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood sent another warning to the carmaker, saying the US will not sleep until its sure Toyota achieved what it said would achieve.

“These measures are important measures, but the proof is in the pudding,” “These measures are important measures, but the proof is in the pudding,” was quoted as saying by The New York Times.“It’s fine to have measures in place, but we must make sure they are carried out. We will continue to be vigilant about the safety of drivers in America."

"We will not compromise and we will not sleep. We will work 24/7 to make sure all Toyotas are safe. If we find that something is not quite the way it’s supposed to be, we’ll address that.”

Akio Toyoda, also present at Toyota's HQ during LaHood's visit, limited himself at saying "Toyota places utmost importance on customer safety."

Toyota's nightmares started disappearing after the carmaker agreed to pay the $16.4 million fine (the largest in history given to a carmaker) earlier in April. A fine it paid, as it said, not because it considered itself to be at fault, but to avoid a protracted dispute and possible litigation.