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)

 

This whole Toyota witch hunt is a little creepy given the government's positions in GM and Chrysler.

 

GO AMERICA.

No, but really, what the hell is going on.

 

^^^^US Govt strategy, kick the dog while its down.

 

Not to mention the fact that if these people had actually been stepping on the brakes, the cars would have stopped. It's pretty basic science, brakes > engines in pretty much every road car ever made.

 

True - I read somewhere that Porsche brakes generate in the neighborhood of 1,500 bhp, more than enough to easily overcome the engine of a Prius!

 

See what happens when you drop out of Formula 1??

 

Apparently that was the problem. people were stepping on their brakes but the cars weren't stopping completely. I'm pretty sure thats true in a lot of cars - get going highway speeds and try to use your brakes without taking your foot off the accelerator.. pretty sure you won't stop, at least not in a timely manner.

 

C&D did a test--a Camry will stop from 70 - 0 in 190 feet with the gas flat on the floor.

 

^Have never seen that before, thanks.