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By Laurie Kellman and Stephen Manning, Associated Press Writers


      Washington (AP) - Japanese formality meets freewheeling
Washington as the mysterious scion of the Toyota empire apologizes
before a House committee investigating deadly flaws that sparked
the recall of 8.5 million cars.

      Akio Toyoda, the automaker's 53-year-old chief executive, says
the company grew too fast to keep up with safety controls.

      "We pursued growth over the speed at which we were able to
develop our people and our organization," Toyoda said in testimony
prepared for delivery Wednesday. "I regret that this has resulted
in the safety issues described in the recalls we face today, and I
am deeply sorry for any accidents that Toyota drivers have
experienced."

      An apology won't be enough for the feisty panel of lawmakers on
the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in a year in
which every one faces re-election. Nor will any culture gap;
Japanese CEOs typically serve symbolic roles akin to figureheads
without much power to control operations.


      Toyoda at first declined to appear before the panel but
acquiesced last week when he was officially invited. He shouldn't
expect an easy day.


      "I'm naive enough to believe that a global CEO is a global
CEO," said Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Pa., a member of the committee.
"He's going to have to say more than that. We all have questions
for him."


      In harmony-loving Japan, company chiefs are usually picked to
cheerlead the rank and file. As the grandson of the company's
founder, Toyoda was groomed to play that role - and even dubbed
"the prince" of the auto empire for a time.


      Japanese corporate royalty or no, Toyoda is familiar with the
United States and its corporate culture. He received his MBA in
1982 at Babson College in Massachusetts. He spent time in
California as vice president of a joint venture between Toyota
Motor Corp. and General Motors Corp., a period the Contra Costa
Times described as a stint learning the family business while
studying the American mind.

      "We do not seek the spotlight," the casual Toyoda was quoted
as saying in his first interview. "We try always to be low-key,
not to be outspoken."


      A dozen years later, the blood from dozens of claims over fatal
crashes staining the family dynasty, Toyoda has no choice. A
significant chunk of Washington's lobbying industry and some part
of the struggling American economy hang on his appearance as it's
broadcast around the world.


      Toyoda, who speaks halting English, planned to appear with a
translator by his side, as well as Yoshimi Inaba, president and CEO
of Toyota Motor North America Inc., who is fluent in English.

      Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and David Strickland, the
new head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
also were expected to testify. Also scheduled to appear was the
mother of an off-duty California highway patrolmen killed with
three family members in a runaway Lexus on a San Diego highway in
August.

      LaHood defended NHTSA in his prepared testimony, saying it has
acted aggressively to force Toyota to address safety problems. He
told lawmakers Tuesday that the agency is looking closely at
whether electronics are to blame.

      "We will get in the weeds on this," he testified.


      Lawmakers indicated they will continue to push Toyoda for
answers on whether his company's top-selling cars and trucks are
safe to drive. The Transportation Department's vehicle safety
division also faces continued questions over whether it took the
problem seriously enough and paid attention to warnings signs with
Toyotas long before the recalls.

      Toyoda's three-page statement departs somewhat from his native
formality. In it, Toyoda emphasizes that he personally test-drives
Toyotas. And he makes a personal appeal for credibility.

      "My name is on every car," he says.


      Associated Press staff writers Alan Fram and Sonya Ross
contributed to this report.
      

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Business and Economic News

Japanese formality meets freewheeling
Washington as the mysterious scion of the Toyota empire apologizes
before a House committee investigating deadly flaws that sparked
the recall of 8.5 million cars.

Toyota CEO apologizes for recall, accidents

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