Toyota tabs 3,000 units in Phl recall

Toyota Motor Co. is recalling nearly three million vehicles globally due to seatbelt defect, including some 3,000 units in the Philippines.

Toyota on Thursday announced it would issue a special service campaign involving about 2.873 million units of RAV4, RAV4 EV and Vanguard vehicles in North America, Europe, Japan, China and other countries.

In the Philippines, Toyota’s local unit said approximately 3,000 units are involved.

“The involved vehicles are equipped with lap- shoulder seatbelts in both second-row outboard seats. There is a possibility that, in the event of a very se- vere frontal crash, the lap belt webbing could contact a portion of the metal seat cushion frame, become cut, and separate. If this occurs, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, which could increase the risk of injury,” Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) said.

“For all involved vehicles, Toyota dealers will install resin covers to the metal seat cushion frame at no cost to affected owners,” TMP added.

TMP is the market leader in the country among member companies of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA).

The company held a market share of 39.2 percent last month based on latest industry reports by CAMPI and TMA.

TMP sold a total of 125,027 units last year and the company plans to increase it to 150,000 units this year.

TMP president Satoru Suzuki earlier said the company is also preparing to invest at least one billion yen to expand its local production capacity in line with its participation in the government’s Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program.

Suzuki said Toyota Motor Corp. of Japan has already authorized its Philippine unit to join the CARS program.