"Sources: Toyota Motor opens whistleblower hotline for group companies, suppliers" 29 June 2023

NHK has learned that Toyota Motor has set up a whistleblower hotline for its group companies and suppliers.

A series of scandals has surfaced at Toyota's group companies since last year.

Daihatsu Motor was found to have falsified data from crash tests to obtain government certification.

Test-rigging was also revealed at Hino Motors and Toyota Industries Corporation.

Sources say the automaker opened the hotline this month for 300,000 people in roughly 220 firms, including group companies, dealers and major suppliers.

Workers can seek online consultations about product safety and quality, and also report improper accounting and other illegal practices.

Toyota Motor will now respond directly to whistleblower information that had previously been handled separately by each company.

The automaker apparently hopes to prevent illegal practices by accepting whistleblower information from workers who are reluctant to report to their employers.