Toyota President to Testify Before U.S. Congressional Committee

President Akio Toyoda of Toyota Motor Corp. reversed an earlier decision not to speak before a congressional committee investigating the company’s safety issues and said he would testify before the committee on February 24.

Toyoda had previously said Yoshimi Inaba, Toyota’s North American chief would speak to the committee instead of him, having said the North American representaitve of the automaker were better equipped to answer questions.

“I have received Congressman Towns’ invitation to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on February 24 and I accept,” Toyoda said. “I look forward to speaking directly with Congress and the American people.”

Committee Chairman Ed Towns, D-N.Y. had sent a letter askingToyoda to assist the committee in ending the confusion around how vehicle owners should respond to the safety issues being addressed by the company.

“The public is unsure as to what exactly the problem is, whether it is safe to drive their cars, or what they should do about it,” said Towns.