The Toyota group makes a series of revelations. We have learned in recent months that its subsidiary Hino Motors, dedicated to heavy goods vehicles, had falsified polluting emissions values. The manufacturer Daihatsu, which is also part of the Toyota group, has rigged crash tests for several decades, for vehicles produced under its brand, but also for models badged Toyota, Subaru and Mazda.
The latest controversy concerns the subsidiary Toyota Industries Corporation, which notably produces forklifts and had already been involved in an emissions scandal. This time, it is not directly the polluting emissions from the engines that are being singled out. Homologation irregularities were, however, observed and made official by the Toyota group this Monday, January 29, 2024.
Rigged calculators to fix approval values
So, “during certification testing, the power of the motors was measured using calculators whose software differed from that used for mass production, in order to measure the results so that the values appeared smoother and had less variation “, explains Toyota. The models concerned, whose production started from 2017, were therefore checked in a configuration different from that of the vehicles leaving the factory. This can raise many concerns, going beyond the power figures which, according to Toyota, nevertheless meet “to engine performance standards”.
Ten models are affected by this scandal, which concerns three different diesel engines (1GD, 2GD and F33A). These blocks are produced by Toyota Industries and installed on board Toyota, Lexus Hino and Mazda models. The only model sold in France tainted by this scandal is the latest generation Hilux pick-up.
Toyota assures its customers that“There is no need to stop using the affected engines or vehicles.” The group has, however, paused the supply of the engines concerned and the marketing of versions of its models which are equipped with them, which represent around 36,000 vehicles assembled per month worldwide.
After the cessation of production of vehicles developed by Daihatsu, which constitute a large part of the group’s catalog in some of its key markets, particularly in Asia, this measure should further weaken Toyota and allow other manufacturers to grab profits from it. market shares.