Appearing before a congressional panel, Toyota Motor Sales USA president James Lentz said the automaker is “taking major steps to become a more responsive, safety-focused organization.” But lawmakers on a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee said the firm has gone to extraordinary efforts to rebut critics – while doing too little research on the nature of the problem.
The hearing centered on Toyota’s efforts to debunk claims that electronic-control systems in the cars may have been at fault. Toyota hired Exponent, a consulting firm, to research the issue. But Representative Waxman and other lawmakers said this effort focused on casting doubt on automotive engineering expert witnesses that plaintiffs may use in court.
Read more: csmonitor.com.