Toyota’s dark period continues. The Japanese announced the recall in US and China is expanding in Europe. Last night, Toyota announced that the US recall is supplemented by a further 1.1 million cars.

The problems Toyota sunken in at the end of last year appear that have not come to an end. After the fall of 2009 they announced a recall of 4.2 million cars due to floor mats that involuntarily push the pedals and now a week after announcing that another 2.3 million cars are recalled to service because of problems with the throttle, the company has announced today that they are recalling in service further 1.1 million cars. Reason: same mats that gave Toyota’s engineers headaches. Moreover, the latest information shows that Toyota will expand the official recall in Europe, without being know the models affected and the number of copies.

TOYOTA RANKINGS, dropping

To these measures are added Toyota’s yesterday decisions to remove from sale all eight models affected in the US indefinitely and to close six plants for three weeks starting February 1 in order not to achieve a surplus of cars in this period. In these conditions, the famous monitoring company Fitch said it would review the situation rating “A-Plus” (the fifth level of 22 possible) Toyota has at this point, the signals indicating to a downward revision of the rating. “The recalls and sales and production suspension cast a negative light on Toyota’s reputation for quality, just as the company emerges from an unprecedented downturn in the auto industry,” Fitch analyst Jeong Min Pak said.

Toyota’s shares dropped 3.91% Thursday  after they had a 4.26% fall yesterday due to decisions related to the sale and production halt of the eight models affected by the recall in US.

EUROPE JOINS THE RECALL

If Japan is excluded from such a measure, because the affected parts are not used on the cars produced on Toyota’s home market, Europe now comes into play. Although Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco, said it they do not yet know the models and the number of units affected, the Japanese media announced last Friday that Toyota will recall to the European services over two million cars. “Yes, Toyota will implement the recall action in Europe. We are not yet sure about how many copies and what model is it,” said Nolasco AFP. “Toyota will implement a recall in Europe. We are still not sure about the models and the number of vehicles,” said Nolasco for AFP.

WHAT DO EXPERTS SAY?

“Toyota’s image has worsened quite a lot because (the recalls) have tarnished the company’s reputation for quality, which was the source of its strength. Toyota’s strategy was to expand its share in the North American market due to the problems of General Motors and Chrysler. Now, because of these recalls and the sales suspension, it stumbled in its efforts. This has provided a new opportunity for carmakers like GM,” said Shigeru Matsumura, an analyst at SMBC Research Center, quoted by France Presse.

GM WANTS TO STEAL TOYOTA’S CUSTOMERS

Toyota’s opponents are not wasting time and they try to turn things in their favor after the recent problems of the Japanese. Thus, GM announced yesterday that it would give the Toyota owners a discount of $1,000 if they will decide to buy a new model from the American group by the end of February.

“Dealers have been getting a lot of queries from customers who have expressed worries about their Toyota vehicles. We want to be able to take advantage of that interest,” a GM America spokesman told AFP.

TOYOTA’S PROBLEMS CALENDAR

November 25, 2009 – Toyota announces that they recall in the US services over 4 million cars because of the faulty floor mats that push the throttle.

November 27, 2009 – Toyota’s managers bonuses are cut by 20% due to the largest recall in the Japanese history.

December 27,2009 – China announces that Toyota recall 43,000 cars in service due to oil leakage.

January 22, 2010 – The US recall extends to further 2.3 million cars. This time, the problems are found at the gas pedal, which may remain pressed after the driver takes his foot of it.

January 24, 2010 – The Japanese press announce the recall in US could expand in Europe. It speaks of two million affected cars.

January 27, 2010 – Toyota take an unprecedented decision at this level: stop selling models with problems in the US. Eight cars are out of the showrooms. Toyota’s US plants production is stopped for three weeks.

January 28, 2010 – The recall with mats related problems is extended to another 1.1 million units in the US. GM announces that each Toyota owner that buys one of American group’s car gets a discount of $1,000.

January 28, 2010 – Toyota officially announced that the recall will expand in Europe. Not knowing the number of units affected.

January 28, 2010 – Recall for gas pedal problems extends into China. 75,000 customers of the brand will be called to service in the Asiatic country. In sight: the RAV4 model.