TOKYO/WASHINGTON - Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda apologized to U.S. lawmakers probing safety lapses and ended the day in tears, saying the automaker must overhaul the way it does business to recover, Reuters reported.

Toyoda, peppered with questions about a massive recall that has rocked Toyota's reputation, told U.S House members he was "deeply sorry" for accidents and injuries involving its cars.

He said Toyota had lost its way during a period of fast growth but vowed to steer it back to the values that made it a watchword for quality.

Cheered by Toyota plant workers and dealers at an event organized by the automaker Wednesday evening in Washington, Toyoda broke into tears under a giant display bearing the name of the company that his grandfather founded.

"I believe that Toyota has always worked for the benefit of the United States," Toyoda said. "I tried to convey that message from the heart, but whether it was broadly understood or not, I don't know."

He also offered a sober assessment of the challenges still ahead: "We at Toyota are at a crossroad. We need to rethink everything about our operation."

Toyoda's appearance in Washington marked a dramatic peak in a safety crisis that broke a month ago with a series of recalls over unintended acceleration and braking problems that now include more than 8.5 million vehicles globally.