Toyota Recall: Corporate Shake Up to Follow

Although nothing new transpired from Japanese carmaker Toyota's HQ, it is obvious for all those in the industry that the huge problem now facing the biggest carmaker in the world will not be left without consequence for its managers. Facing a serious dent in its image, as well as some huge losses due to the recall and its related effects, the carmaker has already began seeking out those responsible and, timidly, pointing fingers.

According to Toyota executive Shinichi Sasaki, the man responsible for Toyota's quality control, the recall is unprecedented in terms of problems for customers. And this is only the cherry on top of the estimated $900 million-loss cake now cooking in Toyota's oven.

"This is embarrassing for us to have ... this kind of recall situation," Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor Sales COO, the man who seems to be completely overwhelmed by the situation told reporters. "But it doesn't necessarily mean that we have lost our edge on quality. But we do have to be vigilant.
We have to redouble our efforts to make sure this doesn't happen again."

Earlier today, the same Lentz said the recall will last for months, not weeks. It is unlikely Toyota will take any drastic shake up measures in that time (except, perhaps, if canning someone helps Toyota get back on its feet).

Yet, as Toshirou Yoshinaga, analyst at Aizawa Securities in Tokyo told DetNews, "the top management should have gone public sooner to address the American public."

Knowing how the Japanese corporate culture reacts in such circumstances, it is very likely someone in the upper floors of the carmaker's HQ will be forced to seppuku his career in the months to come...