Washington Post: Toyota announces recall of 437,000 Prius

National News: Toyota announces recall of 437,000 Prius, other hybrid cars worldwide

News Alert: Toyota announces recall of 437,000 Prius, other hybrid cars worldwide 02:07 AM EST Tuesday, February 9, 2010
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Toyota is recalling about 437,000 Prius and other hybrid cars worldwide to fix brake problems, company President Akio Toyoda announced at a press conference Tuesday in Tokyo.

For more information, visit washingtonpost.com:
http://link.email.washingtonpost.com/r/E5QODK/SSE69/DDNKNR/3WASXF/X0UF1/CM/t

Toyota recalls hybrids worldwide Toyota announces recall of about 437,000 Prius, other hybrid cars worldwide to fix brake problems. Associated Press 2:19 a.m. ET

By YURI KAGEYAMA The Associated Press Tuesday, February 9, 2010; 2:19 AM

TOKYO -- Toyota says it is recalling about 437,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems - the latest in a string of embarrassing safety lapses at the world's largest automaker.

Find the entire article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/08/AR2010020801037.html?hpid=topnews

Insurer warned U.S. of Toyotas in 2007

20100209 sdosm WaPo Toyota announces recall of 437000 Prius

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Toyota Says Prius Brakes Had Design Flaws

Breaking News Alert The New York Times

Thu, Feb. 04, 2010 - 3:48 AM ET--

Toyota Says Prius Brakes Had Design Flaws

Toyota admitted Thursday that the hybrid-electric Prius hadproblems with its anti-lock braking system, the latest blowto the beleaguered company and one that affects the symbol ofthe automaker's engineering prowess. A spokesperson for thecompany said Toyota had found design problems in models soldbefore late January, but that it had corrected them in modelssold since then, the Associated Press reported.

The Prius was drawn into the mounting crisis for Toyota onWednesday as Japanese officials ordered the company toinvestigate problems with the brakes on the 2010 model.American safety officials also said they had received dozensof similar complaints.

With Toyota basing many of its recent hopes on the Prius, newquestions surrounding the car raise doubts about a model thatwas not part of the recent global recalls of more than ninemillion vehicles.

Read More:http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/business/global/05toyota.html?emc=na

Related

Toyota Posts Profit in Quarter Before Recalls (February 5, 2010)

Wheels: Apple Co-Founder: My Prius Has a Problem, Too

LaHood Backtracks on ‘Stop Driving It’ (February 4, 2010)

In a Prius Preserve, Shaken Fans (February 4, 2010)

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No Help in Sight, More Homeowners Walk Away
Prius Brake Inquiry May Be Another Blow for Toyota
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No word yet as to whether or not President Obama has determined that this is also "President Bush's fault."

- BUSINESS -
Toyota Posts Profit in Quarter Before RecallsBy MARTIN FACKLER and HIROKO TABUCHIToyota said Thursday that it posted a net profit in thefinal three months of last year, a period before theJapanese auto giant was hit by its current global recall ofmillions of vehicles.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/business/global/05auto.html?th&emc=th
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Transportation Chief Hastily Backtracks on 'Stop Driving It'By MARK LEIBOVICH and MATTHEW L. WALDRay LaHood , the plainspoken transportation secretary whotold Toyota owners to stop driving the vehicles withpedal problems, became an advertisement for the virtue ofremaining scripted.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/business/04lahood.html?th&emc=th
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In a Prius Preserve, Shaken FansBy JESSE McKINLEYProblems with other Toyota models have owners of thePrius wondering about the safety of their own vehicles.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/business/04owners.html?th&emc=th
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More Business Newshttp://www.nytimes.com/pages/business/index.html?th&emc=th

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

20080606 A lesson to be learned from Ford versus Toyota

A lesson to be learned from Ford versus Toyota

Hat Tip: Grammy June 6, 2008

I received this allegory in an email. It was simply too true to not pass on and post…

A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (Ford) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.

On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile.

The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.

Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 8 people steering and 1 person rowing.

Feeling a deeper study was in order, Ford management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion.

They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing.

Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent another loss to Toyota, the Ford rowing team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents, and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.

They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1 person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called the' Rowing Team Quality First Program,' with meetings, dinners, and free pens for the rower. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes, and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses.

The next year the Japanese won by two miles.

Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for po or performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next year's racing team was out-sourced to India.

Sadly, The End

Here's something else to think about:

Ford has spent the last thirty years moving all its factories out of the US , claiming they can't make money paying American wages.

TOYOTA has spent the last thirty years building more than a dozen plants inside the US The last quarter's results for 2007:

TOYOTA makes 4 billion in profits while Ford racked up 9 billion in losses.

Ford folks are still scratching their heads.

IF THIS WEREN'T TRUE, IT MIGHT BE FUNNY

(I drive a Prius.)

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20080606 A lesson to be learned from Ford versus Toyota