Toyota names leader of North American Quality Task Force

When news of Toyota's recent recall woes began spreading across the U.S., many loyal customers were shocked at what they were hearing. But some customers that were experiencing the very issues that lead to those recalls were likely less surprised, as tales of poor and frustrating customer service showed that Toyota may not have always acted in the best interests of its customers. Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda is looking to eliminate the bad behaviors and inefficient processes that put Toyota in this uncharacteristically poor situation, starting with giving U.S. executives the authority to act upon safety issues.

A report by Automotive News reveals that Toyota is well on its way to establishing the Quality Task Force that Toyoda promised in his many apologies to U.S. customers. The Quality Task Force will work more closely with U.S. customers to catch problems that could lead to recalls before they go viral. Steve St. Angelo, vice president of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, will reportedly lead the Quality Task Force in the U.S., while Quality VP Dino Triantafyllos has been tasked with improving management of product safety issues and expediting safety discussions. St. Angelo claims the task force will "open the lines of communication globally and enable us to respond faster here in North America to any concerns about our vehicles."

The VPs will also work with other Toyota executives from around the world to improve global quality, while also interacting with former U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater, who is leading the independently operated North American Quality Advisory Panel.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.| Image: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty]

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