Japan Orders Toyota to Reform Vehicle Certification

The Japanese government has issued a corrective order to Toyota Motor following the discovery of widespread fraudulent practices in vehicle certification procedures. This marks the first corrective order issued to the automaker and demands 'drastic reforms' to ensure compliance with certification standards. The transport ministry uncovered irregularities in seven additional models, which Toyota had not previously disclosed, despite earlier claims of no new wrongdoing. Affected models include the Corolla Fielder, Corolla Axio, and Yaris Cross, as well as discontinued versions of other models, including those under the Lexus brand. The ministry is conducting an industry-wide investigation after a safety test scandal at Toyota's Daihatsu unit, prompting checks across other manufacturers. Toyota expressed its commitment to improve following the order and reassured customers that they do not need to stop using affected vehicles.