9 of new sales in Europe where orders declined by 3

The massive wave of recalls of Toyota cars now affects Europe. After several days of technical investigations, the European headquarters of the Japanese brand confirmed Friday an impressive reminder of the old Continent, which could involve up to 1.8 million vehicles. Either the largest campaign of this type for the brand to the usually impeccable reputation.

As in the United States and China, the offending problem is a potential default of the accelerator pedal, which is difficult, in some circumstances, to return to its original position, for unexpected reasons of deformation and friction.

As in the United States, always, the European recall covers 8 models, since the Aygo small up to large Avensis sedan, passing by 4 x 4 Rav 4. Release dates vary between February 2005 and January 2010. Only spend between drops three models assembled in the Japan, the Land Cruiser, the Prius hybrid and the Urban Cruiser.

Beyond this radical action, many questions still remain unanswered. Because Toyota has anticipated his battle plan, in releasing Friday the announcement that he planned for the beginning of this week. How many vehicles are involved in France "Approximately 250,000", according to an important dealer, but this figure is not confirmed by Toyota France. Will it change the pedal on the vehicles concerned, an operation heavy, or simply a one-time review Mystery. "Toyota has identified a remedy on this subject and is to pursue a final assessment," meet the engineers. Consequently, French PSA, which manufactures its small Peugeot 107 and Citroën C1 jointly with Toyota Aygo, decided to apply the same procedure for recall to these two models, but only 10 of its production (robotic boxes).

At the end of a meeting of crisis, Friday morning to Vaucresson around the CEO of Toyota France, Toshiyasu Takahashi, several emergency measures have been activated, including with regard to the messages in the call centre of the brand, based in Vervins (Aisne). "Only a limited number of incidents have been recorded in Europe in this regard, but no accident itself", including pounding the Japanese brand, which seeks to preserve as much as possible its reputation for reliability.

Condensation problems

The version advocated by the Wall Street Journal is more troubling: accelerator pedal problems unsafe have been recorded and known brand as of March 2007 in the United States, Tundra pickup, and then, as of December 2008 in Europe, on small Aygo and Yaris to driving on the right. Simply because their pedal is furthest from the mouths of ventilation on other models, condensation problems. The constructor would have developed a technical parade, in the utmost discretion to avoid any bad, that it has started to be applied in its European factories from mid-August 2009.

Rather than the financial cost of the recall, which is not yet known precisely, the final impact risk mainly operate on future sales of the mark, which might suffer from the situation. Toyota accounted last year 4.9 of new sales in Europe, where orders declined by 3.8. As in the United States, the group will have much work to restore its image.

Saturday, Akio Toyoda, Toyota pattern for less than a year, apologized to its customers.