Toyoda Reports Back To His Prime Minister
Back from his hibachi-tour to the hill, and a trip to China, Akio Toyoda this afternoon paid his respects to Japan’s Transport Minister Seiji Maehara, to Economy Minister Masayuki Naoshima, and to the man himself, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. And what a difference it was compared to the enhanced interrogation in Washington.
Toyoda “promised to improve quality control to recover consumer confidence badly shaken by a recent spate of global recalls,” reports The Nikkei [sub]. Toyoda told his Prime Minister ”that we are going to strive to build better cars so people will say Toyota is once again a more transparent and customer-focused company.”
In private, Toyoda probably complained a bit about the barbarian behavior in the U.S.A., neh? In the communiqué, this was simply listed as “Toyoda, the grandson of the automaker’s founder, also briefed Hatoyama about his recent testimony at a U.S. congressional hearing.”
Toyoda said his Prime Minister left him with the advice to “do your best” in regaining customers’ trust, but didn’t provide any specific guidance as to how the auto maker should deal with the recalls.
After the meeting at the prime minister’s residence, Toyoda said they will close NUMMI on April 1, as planned.
Transport Minister Maehara told reporters that he is considering meeting U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to discuss the Toyota issue when he visits the U.S. in April or May.
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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Did it look like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIdgqWPdsA0
Was this a meeting scheduled long in advance? Or was it specifically in response to the hearings in the U.S.? It is normal that government ministers, even heads of state, meet with captains of industry. It would be curious, however, to construct a meeting specifcally in response to hearings related to regulatory oversight of a foreign nation, in a foreign nation. Well, only if the (Japanese) government weren't part and parcel of it's automakers. Which it is and has been. In addition, if the U.S. Congress isn't qualified to conduct oversight of Toyota because of government interest in its competitors, shouldn't Congress critters with Toyota facilities in their districts and/or who have received lobbying cash from Toyota also be disqualified? And who would that leave? Finally, if Toyota does truly feel put upon by U.S. regulation and oversight, they are not compelled to do business here. Funny how we haven't heard anything even remotely like that! Somehow, I don't think Toyota feels the hearings and underlying regulatory scheme is as unfair or biased as some would have us believe.
Yeah, if this type of meeting is not "normal", I'd have to assume the Japanese PM is sending some type of message here, to Toyota, to his countrymen, to those outside his country, or some combination. And I know we're US-centric here, but when I say "those outside his country", I'm talking mostly about a certain non-US country, which I'm sure you can identify.