Toyota halts some South-east Asia exports on Daihatsu safety scandal

TOYOTA Motor halted shipments of six car models in some South-east Asian countries as its subsidiary Daihatsu Motor faces a widening safety scandal, the Yomiuri newspaper reported without citing sources.

The models affected are those that Daihatsu had a part in developing, and include Veloz and Avanza, said the newspaper. Shipments in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia were halted. 

The affected shipments make up about 5 per cent of Toyota’s production in Asia and is not expected to have a significant impact, Yomiuri said. Toyota is working with authorities in each country to restart shipments, the report added.

Toyota has been wrestling with the fallout after an investigation found that Daihatsu did not property test its vehicles for collision safety. Daihatsu has suspended all shipments and halted its Japan plants. BLOOMBERG