Quote Of The Day: "We're Not Finished With Toyota."

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

“We’re not finished with Toyota,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in an e-mailed statement to Reuters. Bad choice of words? Doesn’t that sound a tad vengeful? If a 900 lbs gorilla barks “I’m not through with you” at me, then I’m very afraid. Toyota should be too.

Officially, LaHood’s comments referred to renewed efforts at the NHTSA to recheck files from past investigations that found no problems with Toyota’s electronic throttle control system. An Obama administration official leaked to Reuters that safety regulators are continuing to look at the “possibility that electromagnetic interference” might be messing with Toyota’s throttle control systems.

“NHTSA has not seen evidence to support that” said the deep throat. “Yet.”

Toyota will have to testify in two hearings in Washington. Rep Bart Stupak, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s investigations subcommittee, has scheduled a hearing for February 25. The House Government and Oversight Committee will also hold a hearing on Toyota on February 10. Reuters adds that Stupak’s “home state of Michigan is headquarters for U.S. automakers.”

Does that smell like the beginnings of a witch hunt to anyone?

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Ponchoman49 Ponchoman49 on Feb 03, 2010

    They should be afraid. Very afraid! Toyota has been given a free lunch pass for far to long IMO both in the Import humping press and new editors and by the cult following American public. They will now have to face the music and take it like a man or get the hell out of our country.

  • Tparkit Tparkit on Feb 03, 2010

    My first thought on reading DaHood's comment was, "I wonder if there are still open issues at the NUMMI shutdown?" According to news reports (see link below), federal officials are closely involved in discussions to help out as many as 26,400 auto industry employees. Perhaps Toyota is about be become a whole lot more "reasonable" about its corporate responsibilities to displaced workers now that Guido and Vinnie have come calling. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/13/BUP11AK7KA.DTL&type=business

  • Jkross22 Jkross22 on Feb 03, 2010

    "I suspect part of this is LaHood not wanting to look like a idiot when the IIHS called his war on distracted driving an answer looking for a question." LaHood began looking not like an idiot, but simply just another opportunistic, antagonistic politician more concerned with his popularity and the illusion of his 'proactive actions' than actually doing something of substance. He's the transportation czar - where is the edict from on high to require license tests to include much more substantive education components? Not sexy work, but likely the best way to reduce accidents in the long run, and certainly impact those who have the highest incidences of accidents - young drivers. We'd accomplish much more through driver education than through witch hunts. LaHood is a politician... nothing more.

  • Canucknucklehead Canucknucklehead on Feb 03, 2010

    Me thinks the witch hunt that is going on at the moment will backfire. Will Toyota go bust? Well, if I am looking for a good car for $20,000 and don't want to buy an "unsafe" Toyota, am I going to run to a Chevy or Chrysler dealership? Hardly. And no wonder people in the USA don't trust politicians when obese morons like this go on the rant.

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