NZ-market model caught up in Japan’s admission of improper certification. (This story replaces an earlier report).

AVAILABILITY of a popular Toyota crossover appears in limbo due to issues with credentialing.

Announcement that shipments of the Yaris Cross from Japan have been suspended for an indeterminate period came from Toyota New Zealand today.

The Palmerston North-based market leader says the situation with its smallest sports utility choice is due to issues with “certification testing” by Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in Japan. 

It is not a safety issue and cars already here are not inhibited from being operated as normal.

A report by the website Just-Auto that published subsequent to TNZ airing the decision in media statement explains more about the situation. 

It says TMC has admitted it improperly obtained vehicle certifications for seven car models by carrying out safety tests “using methods that differed from the Government standards.” 

This admission came as part of an ongoing investigation by Japan’s Ministry of Lands, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).

Three of the models are still in production and, of those, just the Yaris Cross comes to New Zealand as a NZ-new product. The others are the Corolla Axio and the Corolla Fielder.

With these TMC admitted “errors occurred in crash tests and other test methods.” It said certification  was obtained “using inadequate data in pedestrian and occupant protection tests.”

TMC said it decided to temporarily halt shipments and sales of the three models still in production, effective immediately, while continuing to provide detailed explanations to the authorities in Japan and expedite appropriate measures, including conduction testing in the presence of witnesses.

Just-Auto also quoted local reports citing MLIT as saying Honda, Mazda, Suzuki and motorcycle maker Yamaha had also declared similar instances of misconduct. National distributors for those brands here have not offered comment.

In its own statement, TNZ said the issue relates to the testing protocols and data gathered on the impact of luggage on the rear seat during a crash test and indicated, as TMC also has, that it is not a safety concern.

It has called the situation an “irregularity.”

The TNZ media share offered the following unattributed comment.

“After thorough internal verifications confirming no performance issues that contravene laws, TMC has advised there is no need to stop using the affected vehicles.

“Toyota New Zealand is working closely with Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan to fully understand the situation and will update the media as soon as more information becomes available. 

“Our vehicles in New Zealand are correctly represented and perform according to technical specifications, meeting all government regulations, however we are putting a temporary hold on customer deliveries until further notice.”

The statement continues: “We have full confidence Toyota New Zealand’s vehicles meet the required performance standards and apologise for any concern this news may have caused.

“We apologise for any concern or inconvenience that may be experienced by our customers who have placed their trust in Toyota.

"We want to reassure our customers that their vehicles are unaffected, and they can continue to drive with confidence. We appreciate the ongoing support of our New Zealand customers.”