InsideJapan News Network

Troubled Japanese car manufacturer Toyota has been hit by another scandal, after a leaked internal memo showed an executive tried to come clean about the safety problems which are thought to have contributed to accidents and deaths around the world.

In the internal email, a senior US executive at Toyota said:"The time to hide on this one is over. We need to come clean."

Just five days later, the car firm - which is the world's biggest vehicle manufacturer - began a recall of millions of cars over potentially dangerous accelerator pedals and faulty brakes.

According to a report in the Times, internal company emails show a "tussle within Toyota over whether or not to inform the public over more fundamental flaws in the pedal mechanism".

After the recall, Toyota boss Akio Toyoda was criticised for not addressing the public until sometime after the scandal broke and was called to speak before US Congress.

Written by Kimberley Homer.


Related news stories:
Toyota to enter Japan's small car market (29th September 2010)
Toyota comes under further recall criticism (21st May 2010)
Toyota shareholders sue troubled firm (22nd March 2010)
Toyota boss faces workforce in Japan (5th March 2010)