Toyota CEO admits growth cost quality

Toyota is widely recognized for its reliability and quality but the past 12 months have seen a number of major product recalls that have tarnished the carmaker's reputation. At the same time Toyota has risen to become the world’s biggest carmaker, producing a record 9,497,754 vehicles last year and eclipsing GM for the first time in 77 years.

Toyota’s President Katsuaki Watanabe has now revealed that this rapid growth was the key factor behind the quality problems, reports Automotive News. Speaking at the Japan National Press Club, Watanabe noted the reasons behind the defects were varied, spanning development, design, production, suppliers and maintenance and even gave the problem a name, “big company disease.”

The problems also led to a number of vehicles being delayed, however Watanabe assured reporters that Toyota has improved quality controls and will meet its sales targets. Officials have now analyzed each of the problems, attempting to track the root causes and coming up with ways to prevent a recurrence, Watanabe explained.