Officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will visit Toyota Motor Corp’s headquarters on Tuesday. in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture.
20:00 JST, June 5, 2024
The irregularities of five domestic vehicle manufacturers were mainly due to the companies each having their own interpretation of the central government’s model certification system.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism conducted an on-site inspection at Yamaha Motor Co.’s headquarters on Wednesday. in Shizuoka Prefecture, in connection with falsified applications for model certification. The ministry opened the headquarters of Toyota Motor Corp. the day before. inspected in Aichi Prefecture.
While some have said the model certification system has become just a formality, the revelation of these misdeeds could damage Japan’s credibility as an automotive powerhouse. This, in turn, could hurt the country’s economy.
Under the model certification system, vehicles, engines and other vehicle equipment are inspected to ensure they meet government safety and environmental standards. When vehicle manufacturers obtain model certification, they no longer have to have each example individually approved by the government.
This system guarantees the mass production of cars and motorcycles, as well as their safety and environmental performance.
If certification is revoked – for example due to the discovery of irregularities – the companies will essentially be unable to mass-produce their vehicles and will have to halt shipments.
Applications for recertification undergo rigorous government review, and it takes at least several months for a company to receive them.
Toyota failed to use the legally required weight in a test to confirm fuel leaks and other problems that could arise from the impact of a rear-end collision. It was claimed that there were no problems in a test collision using a dolly heavier than the legal standard.
Honda Motor Co. falsified data in an engine performance test to bring results closer to catalog results. Although Honda president Toshihiro Mibe said there was no effect on performance, it cannot be denied that the company ignored laws and regulations.
Toyota discovered irregularities in the applications for model certification at the group companies Hino Motors Ltd from 2022 onwards. and Daihatsu Motor Co. However, the automaker could not identify any wrongdoing until the ministry called for an investigation. This shows that self-regulation within the sector has not functioned well.
Serious conditions
Some manufacturers have called for a streamlining of the model certification system, claiming there are no safety issues with these vehicles.
Many of the companies’ irregularities were found in the data used for the applications. These were based on internal tests carried out under stricter conditions than the requirements prescribed by regulations.
As cars have become more multifunctional in recent years, the number of inspection items has increased and become more complex. At the same time, the pace at which new models are introduced has not changed significantly.
Regarding a revision of the certification system, Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda said at a press conference on Monday that he could not comment at this time. However, Toyoda did say that “there is a gap” between the realities faced by frontline workers and legal standards.
“We want to work with the authorities to make the industry more competitive,” Toyoda said.
Takeshi Niinami, representative director of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai), criticized the companies involved at a press conference on Tuesday, saying: “What they have done has led to a loss of consumer confidence, and that is very regrettable.”
However, Niinami also said: “There may be discrepancies [between manufacturers and safety standards.] It may be time to look at what true safety and security means.”
Even as vehicles become more technologically advanced, manufacturers must adhere to a development timeline, said Mai Niizoe, research officer of Sompo Institute Plus Inc. “The government should also try to help [companies] obtain model certification more efficiently.”
Precautionary actions
In response to the repeated misconduct in the auto industry, the ministry set up an expert study group in April to formulate sector-wide measures to prevent recurrence. However, these measures focused on how to comply with the system. There has been no movement to fundamentally overhaul the system itself.
While some have expressed concern about the excessive burden placed on domestic manufacturers, a senior official from the ministry’s Logistics and Road Transport Bureau said: “The tests required to obtain model certification in Japan are neither by global standards nor rigorous , nor mild.”
The procedures for obtaining model certification, including required documents and submission deadlines, are constantly being revised to streamline and simplify them, based on the opinions of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, a group of major manufacturers, and other organizations.
However, some ministry officials look hard at those seeking changes.
“How can they talk about ‘the problems with the rules’ in a situation where they are apologizing for misconduct?” said a ministry official.
