Toyota to publicize all future faults in bid to win back trust

TOKYO, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Toyota Motor Corp. is to explain to the public any fault concerning its cars, even if it does not need a recall, the world's largest automaker said Friday.

The move is seen as part of a strategy to try to revive public confidence about the safety of cars manufactured by the automaker.

In the event of mandatory recalls, automakers are required by law to make an announcement either via their Web sites or through Japan's transport ministry, but for faults that do not require this, informing the general public is voluntary.

Toyota has recalled over eight million cars worldwide since late last year as faults with accelerator pedals and brakes have dogged the automaker and led to a massive amount of bad publicity for the automaker.

Meanwhile, the company said Friday President Akio Toyoda had postponed a trip to the United States to explain how the automaker would improve safety in its cars until early March.

Toyota cited heavy snowfall in Washington D.C. as the reason for the postponement. Toyoda had been scheduled to visit the United States in late February.