Toyota Brake Problem Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Toyota Brake Problem Analysis - Research Paper Example They are the leading automobile manufacturer in the world for the last few decades. Even in America, Toyota cars are selling more than what the local automobile manufacturers were able to sell. Quality and reliability are the major features of Toyota vehicles. Competitors are struggling to compete with Toyota because of the superior quality, excellent supply chain, and very good after sales support, offered to the consumers by Toyota. It is difficult to compete with Toyota individually and therefore competitors are forming regional blocs to compete with Toyota. For example, â€Å"DaimlerChrysler and BMW accepted GM's invitation to cooperate in joint development of hybrid technology, in part to gang up on Toyota†2. In short, the competitors were struggling to compete with Toyota till recent times. However, Toyota suffered some major setbacks in recent times and forced to recall some of its cars because of technical problems like brake problems accelerator pedal problems etc. Th is paper briefly analyses the impacts of such problems caused to Toyota at present and in future. Some owners of the 2010 Prius have reported their brakes do not always engage immediately when they press the brake pedal, or that the brakes have an inconsistent feel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it would assess the scope of the problem and the safety risk to about 37,000 cars that could be affected3 Brake problems and accelerator pedal problems were the major technical problems which caused Toyota to recall millions of vehicles from America, Europe and Asia for repairing and replacing. The Prius, a hybrid-powered (gas and electric) sedan introduced in American market as the most environmental friendly car by Toyota, suffered major brake problems which forced Toyota to recall around 37000 cars from American market alone. This vehicle was manufactured strictly in accordance with the demands of President Obama. Obama earlier declared cash for clunker program f or replacing old cars from American roads and to encourage Americans to use more environmental friendly and fuel efficient cars. Many of the Americans utilized the cash incentives offered by Obama to replace their old cars and they purchased Prius because of the claims put forward by Toyota. However, the brake problems of Prius affected the images of Toyota as a trusted brand in America. Toyota Motor Corp extended its safety recall of millions of its most popular cars to Europe and China in a further blow to the reputation of the world's largest auto maker. The scale of the fix for potentially dangerous accelerator pedals emboldened rivals and could land the Japanese carmaker with hundreds of millions of dollars in extra costs per month. Toyota, a byword for quality and reliability, said it had not yet determined how many vehicles in Europe would be recalled, or when, but media and analysts believe 2 million may be affected on top of some 6 million in North America. In China, the wo rld's biggest auto market in 2009, the carmaker said on Thursday it had submitted an application to recall over 75,000 RAV4 vehicles4 It is estimated that around 8 million Toyota were so far recalled from the global market because of accelerator and brake problems. Toyota engineers are working day and night to rectify the problems and to regain the lost confidence of the public. Nobody has any doubt about the abilities of Toyota in bouncing back from this crisis; however, it is