Toyota (TM), clearly the builder of millions of cars with brake and accelerator problems, has tried to change the public’s focus away from its recalls, government investigations, and what will be multibillion liability suits. The Japanese car company says ABC News showed a demonstration of an Avalon model’s accelerator problems by using a parked car rather than one in motion. ABC is almost certainly guilty of the charge.
But, ABC’s presentation of the Toyota defects has nothing to do with the real problem which is that the firm’s cars have manufacturing problems and Toyota may have been slow to tell that to the public and the federal government. There have even been accusations that the company actively covered up its safety issues.
Toyota’s attempts to shift the spotlight from its mistakes is a classic public relations ploy, and that makes the world’s largest car company look as if it is doing whatever it can to cover-up its mistakes.
Douglas A. McIntyre