Toyota U.S. chief defends electronics

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After apologizing, James Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Corp.’s U.S. operations, insisted that he was confident that electronics were not at fault for sudden, uncontrolled acceleration but for the first time acknowledged that software could be among the causes.

“We are confident that no problems exist with the electric throttle control system in our vehicles,” Lentz told an investigative panel of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

But Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Beverly Hills), chairman of the full committee was dubious. In fierce questioning, Waxman pressed Lentz on whether he stood by previous comments that a mechanical fix had solved the company’s safety problem.

Pointing out that Lentz’s comments were at odds with the statements that committee investigators had received, Waxman asked if the mechanical fixes to the gas pedals had solved the problem.

Lentz for the first time indicated that there could be a variety of causes for the problem including “software issues in the transmission and a faulty cruise control.” He also said that the increased revolutions needed for air conditioning could have been a factor.

But Lentz insisted that Toyota tests in Japan have ruled out any problems in the electronic control unit.
The distinction on causes is crucial because it goes to the heart of the investigators’ issue on sudden acceleration and how Toyota responded.

The other issue that is expected to come up is how U.S. regulators dealt with the problem.

-- Ken Bensinger, reporting from Washington, D.C., and Michael Muskal, reporting from Los Angeles