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WASHINGTON – Akio Toyoda, scion of the beleaguered Toyota empire, is apologizing Wednesday before a House committee investigating deadly flaws that sparked the recall of 8.5 million cars.
Toyoda, the automaker's 53-year-old chief executive, says the company grew too fast to keep up with safety controls.
"We pursued growth over the speed at which we were able to develop our people and our organization," Toyoda said in testimony prepared for delivery Wednesday. "I regret that this has resulted in the safety issues described in the recalls we face today, and I am deeply sorry for any accidents that Toyota drivers have experienced."
An apology won't be enough for the feisty panel of lawmakers on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in a year in which every one faces re-election. Nor will any culture gap; Japanese CEOs typically serve symbolic roles akin to figureheads without much power to control operations.
Toyoda at first declined to appear before the panel but acquiesced last week when he was officially invited. He shouldn't expect an easy day. His appearance comes as Japan opened its own investigation into unintended acceleration with Toyota and other vehicles in that country.
In advance of the hearing on Capitol Hill, Rep. Paul Kanjorski, a member of the committee, said he expects a lot from Toyoda. "I'm naive enough to believe that a global CEO is a global CEO," he said, adding that an apology alone will not suffice.
"He's going to have to say more than that," the Pennsylvania Democrat said. "We all have questions for him."
In harmony-loving Japan, company chiefs are usually picked to cheerlead the rank and file. As the grandson of the company's founder, Toyoda was groomed to play that role — and even dubbed "the prince" of the auto empire for a time.
Japanese corporate royalty or no, Toyoda is familiar with the United States and its corporate culture. He received his MBA in 1982 at Babson College in Massachusetts. He spent time in California as vice president of a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corp. and General Motors Corp., a period the Contra Costa Times described as a stint learning the family business while studying the American mind.
Toyoda, the automaker's 53-year-old chief executive, says the company grew too fast to keep up with safety controls.
"We pursued growth over the speed at which we were able to develop our people and our organization," Toyoda said in testimony prepared for delivery Wednesday. "I regret that this has resulted in the safety issues described in the recalls we face today, and I am deeply sorry for any accidents that Toyota drivers have experienced."
An apology won't be enough for the feisty panel of lawmakers on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in a year in which every one faces re-election. Nor will any culture gap; Japanese CEOs typically serve symbolic roles akin to figureheads without much power to control operations.
Toyoda at first declined to appear before the panel but acquiesced last week when he was officially invited. He shouldn't expect an easy day. His appearance comes as Japan opened its own investigation into unintended acceleration with Toyota and other vehicles in that country.
In advance of the hearing on Capitol Hill, Rep. Paul Kanjorski, a member of the committee, said he expects a lot from Toyoda. "I'm naive enough to believe that a global CEO is a global CEO," he said, adding that an apology alone will not suffice.
"He's going to have to say more than that," the Pennsylvania Democrat said. "We all have questions for him."
In harmony-loving Japan, company chiefs are usually picked to cheerlead the rank and file. As the grandson of the company's founder, Toyoda was groomed to play that role — and even dubbed "the prince" of the auto empire for a time.
Japanese corporate royalty or no, Toyoda is familiar with the United States and its corporate culture. He received his MBA in 1982 at Babson College in Massachusetts. He spent time in California as vice president of a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corp. and General Motors Corp., a period the Contra Costa Times described as a stint learning the family business while studying the American mind.
