Toyota suppliers Denso, Yazaki and Tokai Rika raided by FBI

 Toyota suppliers Denso, Yazaki and Tokai Rika raided by FBI
New FBI agent training with hand gun - 1125 - 25.02.2010

Toyota is unwittingly in bad headlines once again after three of its suppliers were raided by FBI agents on Tuesday. Denso, Yazaki and Tokai Rika had their offices searched by the law enforcement officers in what has been described as an investigation concerning anti-trust issues.

"The anti-trust division is investigating the possibility of anti-competitive cartel conduct of automotive electronic components suppliers," said Gina Talamona, deputy director of public affairs for the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. "We are coordinating with the European Commission and other foreign competition authorities."

Toyota is aware of the investigations. Denso supplies Toyota with a number of components, including accelerator pedal mechanisms, but says this particular investigation is unrelated to that matter. A Denso spokesperson also said the pedal module her company produces for Toyota is not a subject of the current recall which has seen up to 4.8 million vehicles being recalled.

 

Source: autonews.com (sub req)

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 nederina nederina
Look at what you've done Toyota
February 25, 2010 3:20 pm
 2010S5 2010S5
How the hell is that picture relevant..
February 25, 2010 3:23 pm
 6spdaudi 6spdaudi
My thoughts exactly. Why not just show the FBI seal?
February 25, 2010 3:58 pm
 EDavis EDavis
How can you NOT like a woman with a Glock!
February 25, 2010 3:26 pm
 Xenicide Xenicide
^ This
February 25, 2010 4:45 pm
 MTC MTC
+1 for that
February 25, 2010 6:38 pm
 Xanavi23 Xanavi23
Amen. Not many women finer than a trained one.
February 25, 2010 11:02 pm
 Renegade Renegade
Looks like Gov. Motors it's on offensive, a few more stunts like this and America will become the laughing stock of the world, we should thank to are great socialist leaders.
February 25, 2010 3:34 pm
 EDavis EDavis
It's the FBI on offensive, not "Gov. Motors." An FBI raid in this case consists of walking in the door, flashing a fancy FBI badge, and telling people that you're going to be looking at paperwork and computer files whether they like it or not. These are not the sort of actions worthy of earning any country "laughing stock of the world" status.
February 25, 2010 3:46 pm
 Renegade Renegade
Yep, but it's a huge hit on the public perception Toyota has, and with Toyota being the biggest rival of Government Motors, more and more people consider this Toyota recall scandal a part of an economical warfare. Of course, not me, the Cadillac in my avatar pic, most of my comments on GM articles and the CTS Coupe or the ATS being on my list of variants for my next car say that, but facts are facts and a lot of people make personal scenarios with them.
February 25, 2010 4:22 pm
 Edison Edison
Let them laugh, at least we have government agencies that protect the consumer, and in this case, fair business practices. I suppose the rest of the world (at least the parts with no such enforcement) is just more civilized...And I take it you are against the enforcement of anti-trust laws, even though they have served us pretty good for more than a century. If these companies don't play by the rules, they should suffer the consequences. Good riddance.
February 25, 2010 5:41 pm
 benz_man benz_man
No company plays "by the rules", and don't be fooled, there are ZERO gov agencies protecting the consumer, LOL. They're all protecting their best interest...which is profit. Good'ol American Capitalism.
February 25, 2010 7:13 pm
 thomaspaluska thomaspaluska
EDavis: "How can you NOT like a woman with a Glock! " LoL LoP !
February 25, 2010 3:58 pm
 N20_Purge N20_Purge
Is that a Toyota in the background? Might be relevant. :P
February 25, 2010 5:23 pm
 tomivav tomivav
lol, the pic is funny. too bad for toyota about the whole thing. i feel sorry for them.
February 25, 2010 5:53 pm
 andrewB andrewB
it is a female, hasnt got dark skin around the mouth
February 25, 2010 6:40 pm
 Razz Razz
They might be right .. but i really smell something not good here! Soon .. the american customs will ban imports from Japan because a toyota transported them to the airport/marina port. They are just frustrated and just trying to recover their money from GM (bailout) by killing the no.1 competitor in such way that Gov Motor can make a profit.
February 25, 2010 6:57 pm
 hata0101 hata0101
that's exactly what happening now for this "toyota-circus". media got "paid" somehow to magnify the whole case, with govt help on govt motor... so the big-3 can back back on their feet, after the meltdown in 2009. unfortunately, it may not work... consumers either still have confident & loyal to toyota, or switch to other brand like Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsu, Hyundai, VW... the list goes on & govt motor maybe at the bottom of the list.
February 25, 2010 7:17 pm
 Renegade Renegade
Or the Americans can gain back some market share the same way the Japanese did it years ago, by making good looking cars, with modern tech. and quality build. Cadillac it's close to it's Japanese and Euro rivals, Buick is being pushed to regain it's formed glory, Ford is on the wave because it's the only one of the big 3 who didn't asked for bail out last year, and they have a winner in the new Focus, I know 3 Toyota Corolla owners that want to get a Focus sedan next year. And we all wait to see what's coming from Chrysler under Fiat management.
February 25, 2010 8:37 pm
 hata0101 hata0101
renegade, only agreed in certain extent...Cadillac is luxury brand, if compare apples to apples, Caddy still a long road to catch up with Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Lexus, Infiniti & Acura...Buick, yes, some of the new Buick looks great, but the problem is the brand, the name. 9 out of 10 ppl i asked, shake their heads on the name Buick. not cool to drive a Buick...it's the name. i know, it's shallow, but it's bloody truth. try telling ppl "i'm driving a Buick!" & yes, Ford is the only one i think will greatly benefit by this "toyota-circus". & yes, i'm still mad on the freaking govt use our tax payer money to bail out GM & Chrysler, & let those wall street crooks to use our taxpayer money to pay out millions & millions of bonus...& the govt do nothing but attacking poor toyota. it's reputation not built in one day, & the govt & american try to destroy it by such dirty tricks... bad! shame on it.
February 26, 2010 2:30 am
 evo2 evo2
That's why it's Hondas turn now....
February 25, 2010 7:19 pm
 Razz Razz
I am glad to see that there are real opinions here based on facts, i am a huge fan of the Ford's Group (Volvo, Aston Martin) Mustang, Corvette or the new Camaro .. but with 3 cars (everybody knows more US cars with a real chance of succes without discounts?), you can't make a whole industry work. Beside the fact that absolutely every car maker in its history had a recall session for who knows what, i really don't think this circus is needed : neither for the toyota or the USA. I mean, ok .. the dealer network of Toyota is quite large, they have services, maintainance programs and so on, if they will sell less, the people will loose jobs and the IRS will collect less money. The factories of the Jap. brand in the US have American employees, some cities are alive because of that - so, maybe they will loose some clients (for the design :)))) ) but give me a break, for one crazy woman who doesn't know to drive her Lexus (this is what you get for ordering it with AT, with a MT this would never had happened) or some other "my prius doesn't brake when i want" dude, a 9 mil cars/year carmaker will not be put on his knees, at least i hope not! PS - Without joke, this whole scandal makes me want more a Toyota .. i might get the new Avensis in the next future :)
February 26, 2010 7:27 am
 hata0101 hata0101
that's EXACTLY what's wrong with govt motor team up with the govt!! what a shame... remember, there are way more happy toyota/ lexus owners driving their cars EVERY SINGLE DAY with absolutely NO PROBLEM!! it's reputation/ goodwill is not built in one day!
February 26, 2010 3:04 pm
 joelynn joelynn
Ford dont own aston martin any more and are about to sell off volvo.... would you believe that in the UK thanks to price rises a Focus costs from 27,000- 41,000 dollars
February 26, 2010 3:35 pm
 rho88 rho88
It's funny how the FBI raided only US based Japanese supplier and not any of the American supplier Toyota has. Like CTS Corp, the supplier who made the faulty accelerator pedal. It's an american own company and yet no one talks about them. If I was Toyota, I would ask the US gov't if they want Toyota to close all US factories and move them elsewhere, and see what the US gov't has to say about that.
February 27, 2010 3:47 am
 hata0101 hata0101
yes! i wish toyota has guts to say that in front of the face of U.S. govt! u put me down by dirty tricks, u'll pay for the consequences... stupid American.
February 27, 2010 1:21 pm