Up Front, Toyota is running TV ads vowing to win back customers' trust. But behind the scenes, the besieged carmaker is trying to influence the congressional investigations, and maybe even control them if they can.
It's part of an ploy by the world's biggest auto manufacturer to redeem its reputation~ hit anew on Tuesday as Toyota's global recall surpassed 8.5 million cars and trucks. The day's safety recall of 440,000 of the Prius and other hybrids, plus a Tokyo news conference where the company's president read a statement in English hoping to "regain the confidence of our customers," underscoring his determination to keep buyers' faith from sinking to unrecoverable depths.
Facing congressional inquiries & government safety investigations, Toyota through its lawyers and lobbyists is working to salvage its reputation. The confidential strategy includes efforts to sway upcoming hearings on Capitol Hill. Lobbyists have helped by companies that have survived similar consumer and political crises ~ and those that haven't. Toyota will say little publicly about its efforts to stop the bleeding.
Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich, said Toyota representatives visited his offices seeking to learn all they could.
"They're probing us. 'What are you going to ask us, where are you going with this whole thing?'" said Stupak, who is chairman of a House subcommittee looking into Toyota's problems.
Toyota spending more than $4 million on lobbying last year, declined to discuss details.The company has hired additional lobbyists, lawyers and public relations experts to influence regulators and lawmakers collaboratively towards a successful recall effort, ensuring proper, diligent compliance according to their press release.
It's part of an ploy by the world's biggest auto manufacturer to redeem its reputation~ hit anew on Tuesday as Toyota's global recall surpassed 8.5 million cars and trucks. The day's safety recall of 440,000 of the Prius and other hybrids, plus a Tokyo news conference where the company's president read a statement in English hoping to "regain the confidence of our customers," underscoring his determination to keep buyers' faith from sinking to unrecoverable depths.
Facing congressional inquiries & government safety investigations, Toyota through its lawyers and lobbyists is working to salvage its reputation. The confidential strategy includes efforts to sway upcoming hearings on Capitol Hill. Lobbyists have helped by companies that have survived similar consumer and political crises ~ and those that haven't. Toyota will say little publicly about its efforts to stop the bleeding.
Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich, said Toyota representatives visited his offices seeking to learn all they could.
"They're probing us. 'What are you going to ask us, where are you going with this whole thing?'" said Stupak, who is chairman of a House subcommittee looking into Toyota's problems.
Toyota spending more than $4 million on lobbying last year, declined to discuss details.The company has hired additional lobbyists, lawyers and public relations experts to influence regulators and lawmakers collaboratively towards a successful recall effort, ensuring proper, diligent compliance according to their press release.