Quote Of The Day: Toyota Terror Explained Edition

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

It was just this guy that thought that this was how you got something to Toyota’s research and develop office

Sgt. K.S. Dickson of the Winfield (West Virginia) State Police detachment had wvgazette.com by way of explaining the recent bomb scares at four of Toyota’s US facilities. Apparently the suspicious packages were sent by a Nigerian inventor trying to sell his turn signal design to Toyota. After one package was “disrupted” by a police bomb squad, it was discovered that

There were no explosives in the box, just relay switches, wiring and film canisters, in addition to a letter from the Nigerian man claiming to be an engineer

The FBI’s take?

We’re not looking to charge him or anything. It’s one of those unfortunate misunderstandings. We respond to suspicious activity all the time. In the current climate, its an ongoing dynamic nationwide.

Of course, this is bad news for all of the parties most invested in this story. Toyota fanboys can no longer claim that a dastardly conspiracy against the company is afoot, while detractors can no longer argue that the automaker’s quality standards have fallen low enough to seriously consider using Nigerian film canister-based turn signals. I think we all learned something today, but I’ll be damned if I can put my finger on it…

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • NulloModo NulloModo on May 19, 2010

    Wow, I find this outcome incredibly funny. I'm a big fan of the humor that can arise from things getting lost in translation or miscommunicated anyway, but the mental image of a man sitting in his hut somewhere in Nigeria jerry-rigging together some turn signal from bits and pieces laying about and trying to cash in by mailing it to random US Toyota factories is just too good not to giggle. I really want to understand the convoluted thought process that initiated this endeavor. Why did he decide to design a turn signal of all things? Is there any need for improvement in that particular aspect of an automobile? Is there any other part of a car that is currently less likely to fail or even get mentioned in a review or press materials? Why did he decide Toyota would be the best company to ply with his wares? How did he come to the decision that the best way to sell it to them was to box up a bunch of samples and just start mailing them to various Toyota factories? Why did only Toyota factories in the US get these boxes, or did he send them to Japan and other parts of the world where Toyota builds cars and we just never heard of it? Also, the FBI quote is interesting... of course they aren't looking to charge him with anything. How does the FBI even begin to have jurisdiction in Nigeria?

  • Littlehulkster Littlehulkster on May 20, 2010

    I'm pretty sure someone actually called this in the previous article.

  • Kbinva Kbinva on May 20, 2010

    I concur with commenter "educatordan." When I saw the picture of the kitty cat in the turn signal housing of the pickup truck, I thought "I wonder if that is where the cat lives? Maybe the owner lives close by? I hope he has enough to eat?" The topic of the article truly became an "afterthought" in my mind. I'm sure others probably may feel the same way!

    • Slow_Joe_Crow Slow_Joe_Crow on May 20, 2010

      The picture is definitely from an ex communist country since the kitty is in the turn signal housing of a Lada Niva and there is a Lada Riva (commmie Fiat 124) in the background.

  • 1996MEdition 1996MEdition on May 20, 2010

    Curbside Classic, Part Deux?

    • PrincipalDan PrincipalDan on May 21, 2010

      There's a way to make curbside classics clue harder! Make the clue some junked out old model with say a squirrel frolicking on a cracked dashboard.

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