Chinese regulators have called Toyota Motor Corporation's Tianjin plant "dangerous and defective" after the car giant was forced to announce a major recall.
Toyota Corolla sedan Image: TMC |
Toyota is recalling over 33,800 Toyota Corolla sedans manufactured in the north-eastern Tianjin plant between 23 October 2010 and 29 January 2011. The cars produced at the plant, which is jointly operated by Toyota and China's FAW group, may have potential defects that stop the engine from working effectively.
The Chinese government's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine released a statement claiming that malfunctioning brakes and broken driveshafts in the Camry sedan, Reiz compact and Land Cruiser SUV had “caused many casualties” in the first half of the year, though did not directly seek a recall from the Japanese manufacturer. Toyota's spokesman in Beijing, Liu Peng, said that they are “looking into the issue and are trying to clarify the facts.”
The Chinese government is currently increasing efforts to control vehicle quality as the traffic accident rate continues to rise. Of the 673,000 vehicles recalled by automakers last year, 628,000 were made in China, leading to concerns over Chinese manufacturing standards.