Shanghai, April 26 (Gasgoo.com) Japanese auto giant Toyota Motor Corp has announced that the company plans to set up six quality control centers in China to enhance quality management in the world's largest auto market, People's Daily reported, citing Toyota China's top executive.
The quality control centers, located in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Tianjin and Changchun, will try to contact customers within 24 hours when vehicle failures are reported. The recent massive global recalls of Toyota cars covered the locally made and sold RAV4 SUVs in China.
"China is a most important market, just as Japan and U.S.," Satoru Mori, managing director for Toyota China, said Thursday before the opening 2010 Beijing auto show. He predicted that China's auto sales may hit 15 million units this year.
Mori said Toyota will offer locally developed low-price vehicles, about 73,000 yuan ($10,700), in China's small-car market to win buyers and compete with Korean cars. Toyota operates Chinese ventures with FAW Group and Guangzhou Auto.
On Feb. 28, Toyota started its recall of 75,552 RAV4 SUVs made in China to replace the faulty accelerator pedals. Sales of other Toyota models in China have not been affected, though their quality has also been questioned.
Toyota aims to sell over 800,000 vehicles in China this year. FAW-Toyota's new plant, located in Changchun city, southeast China, will start production by early 2012, with an annual capacity of 100,000 vehicles.
