On Tuesday, Japanese automaker Daihatsu announced the appointment of a Toyota veteran to replace its president, as it endeavors to address the repercussions of a scandal involving cheating on vehicle safety tests. The issues at Daihatsu Motor Co. came to light following a whistleblower report. Subsequent third-party investigations uncovered long standing violations, including conducting tests on only one side of a vehicle when both sides were required to be tested.
The appointments of a new president, executive vice president, and director underscore Toyota’s commitment to spearheading reforms within its wholly-owned subsidiary.
Masahiro Inoue, currently overseeing Toyota’s operations in South America, is set to assume the role of Daihatsu President starting in March, as confirmed by Toyota Chief Executive Koji Sato during a press conference in Tokyo.
Inoue will succeed Soichiro Okudaira, who is stepping down from his position. Okudaira was also appointed by Toyota. Additionally, Daihatsu’s chairman, Sunao Matsubayashi, has resigned, and two other directors have departed from the board while retaining their positions within the company.
As part of the announced changes on Tuesday, Masanori Kuwata, currently affiliated with Lexus International Co., Toyota Motor Corp.’s luxury brand, will take on the role of Daihatsu’s Executive Vice President. Furthermore, Keiko Yanagi, serving as a deputy chief officer at Toyota, has been appointed as a director at Daihatsu.
Inoue extended apologies to Daihatsu’s customers, suppliers, and dealers, expressing his commitment to being a attentive listener to regain people’s trust, drawing from his extensive experience working overseas over the years.
“We will unite our hearts and strive for a fresh beginning,” Inoue stated.
These appointments underscore Toyota’s resolve to take the lead in implementing reforms within its wholly-owned subsidiary and prevent future scandals.
Inoue mentioned that a business plan, along with a new managerial direction, will be unveiled in April.
The Japanese government has mandated the suspension of production for several Daihatsu models until proper tests are conducted and approved. While some production has resumed, work on other models will require additional time.
Although no significant accidents have been linked to the cheating scandal, the revelation has prompted significant concerns regarding oversight at Daihatsu and its parent company, Toyota.