Photo/Illutration Akio Toyoda, chairman of Toyota Motor Corp., apologizes for improper practices over vehicle certification at a news conference in Tokyo on June 3. (Takeshi Komiya)

Five major vehicle manufacturers, including industry leader Toyota Motor Corp., were engaged in improper practices over government certification tests, the transport ministry announced June 3.

The remaining four are Mazda Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Suzuki Motor Corp. and Yamaha Motor Co., a motorcycle producer.

The companies discovered inappropriate acts during in-house investigations the ministry ordered following irregularities over certification found at Daihatsu Motor Co., Toyota’s wholly owned subsidiary, and Toyota Industries Corp., a core group company of Toyota.

Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda apologized at a news conference in Tokyo on June 3.

“As an executive responsible for the Toyota group, I sincerely apologize to our customers, car enthusiasts and stakeholders for problems that have occurred within the group,” Toyoda said.

“I believe that these acts shake the very foundation of the certification system and should never have been done as an automaker.”

The transport ministry will inspect Toyota’s head office as early as June 4 based on the Road Transport Vehicle Law.

It also plans on-site inspections for the four other companies in sequence.

The ministry had instructed 85 companies, including automakers, to investigate whether problematic acts over certification had occurred during the past 10 years.

Toyota announced on June 3 that it had conducted certification tests on seven vehicle models using methods different from government standards.

The company said it would suspend shipments and sales of the Yaris Cross, the Corolla Fielder and the Corolla Axio, which are among the seven models, as of June 3.

According to the announcement, data were insufficient in tests for protection of pedestrians and passengers for these three models.

Errors were found in the methods for crash and other tests for the remaining four models, whose production has already been discontinued.

Mazda also announced on June 3 that engine control software was rewritten for the power test for the Roadster RF and the Mazda2.

The company also said test vehicles were manipulated for the crash test for the Atenza, the Axela and the Atenza/Mazda6, whose production has been discontinued.

In 2022, truck maker Hino Motors Ltd., a Toyota subsidiary, was also found to have falsified emissions and fuel economy performances for engines. 

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