Toyota to mollify US public with fine

McClatchy Newspapers

TOKYO

Toyota Motor Corp. is considering paying a record fine imposed by the U.S. government in an effort to avoid a resurgence of criticism by the U.S. public, according to sources.

Nonetheless, Toyota once again might face harsh opprobrium from the U.S. public as the company announced a recall of about 600,000 Sienna minivans in the United States on Friday.

The U.S. Department of Transportation imposed a $16.375 million civil penalty on Toyota earlier this month over the automaker’s failure to disclose an accelerator defect in some of its models.

Toyota likely will come to conclude that paying the penalty is unavoidable to put the situation behind it, the sources said. On the other hand, the company is believed still to be denying the accusation that it was hiding the defect, which the U.S. government noted in its reason for levying the fine.

It is uncertain whether Toyota will be able to gain the conficence of the U.S. government and public.

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