WASHINGTON (AP) – A House lawmaker is pointing to documents showing Toyota celebrating $100 million in savings by avoiding a broad safety recall, saying they make this a “very embarrassing day” for the company.
Florida Republican John Mica waved copies of the July 2009 internal Toyota document that listed the issue as a “win” for Toyota. The document says Toyota was able to save $100 million by negotiating a more limited recall with the government in 2007 over floor mats.
Floor mats later became the source of a huge recall last fall over fears they could trap gas pedals.
Toyota president Akio Toyoda replied that the document don’t reflect the entire company. He was testifying Wednesday before the House Oversight Committee about Toyota’s troubled safety record.