Toyota Increases Number of EDR Readers

As the heat caused by the Toyota recalls diminishes, the Japanese carmaker seems to have learned its lesson. After announcing it will fit all future generation Toyotas with Event Data Recorders (EDR), the carmaker today announced it has also increased the number of facilities able to read EDR data.

Toyota says it currently has 150 readout devices in North America and is currently training personnel to use them. Ten such devices were handed to the NHTSA, while 4 are in the hands of Transport Canada. The number of readout devices is somewhat impressive, as up until now Toyota had only one such tool operational in the US.

"By increasing the number of Event Data Recorder readout devices and training more staff across the country, Toyota is better prepared to respond to customer concerns quickly and address their needs more effectively," Steve St. Angelo, Toyota Chief Quality Officer for North America said in a release.

"We have delivered on this pledge to our customers and to Congress as we continue working hard to set a new standard of customer care at Toyota."

In addition to the implementation of EDRs and the required reading tools, Toyota also announced new policies and procedures for handling EDR readouts and data requests from customers. By 2012, the year when the US requires all automakers to have EDRs and EDR readers, the readout devices will be commercially available, complete with the software package. Both will be used to assist in accident investigations and, if needed, unintended acceleration cases.