Toyota Expands Tests to All Its SUV Models
Toyota Motor Corp. said it would expand safety testing to all of its sport-utility vehicles, after suspending U.S. sales of its Lexus GX 460 amid rollover concerns, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The car maker also decided to suspend sales of the 2010 Lexus GX 460 in other countries where the luxury vehicle is sold and will halt production of the SUV for nine days beginning April 16 to prevent inventory levels from building up.
Toyota drew praise from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for taking "the proactive step" of offering owners of the luxury SUV a borrowed car until the problem is fixed.
"That is the kind of response we hope every automaker would take," NHSTA administrator David Strickland said at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress meeting in Detroit. Strickland said his staffers have noted that Toyota "has definitely been more responsive" since January, when he took over leadership at the federal safety agency.
Toyota will conduct tests on its Rav4, Highlander, 4 Runner, Sequoia, Land Cruiser and FJ cruiser models, as well as the Lexus LX and the Lexus RX. None of those models has shown rollover risk.
NHTSA Thursday said it will conduct its own tests on the Lexus GX 460. Strickland said Consumer Reports had given the agency a preliminary report before its public announcement Tuesday that the vehicle would get a rare "don't buy" rating slapped on it.
More Industry

Kia Closes Out Summer With a Bang
Its U.S. subsidiary broke multiple records in August, in part due to a surge of demand for hybrids models.
Read More →
Indiana Dealership Changes Hands
A 30-year-old Ford dealership in Indiana has a new owner and will soon be undergoing renovations to meet manufacturer requirements.
Read More →
Texas Dealership No Longer in the Family
The Ford store, a longtime cornerstone of the Houston market, is now part of one of the fastest-growing U.S. auto groups.
Read More →
Genesis Grows California Presence
The Cardinale Automotive Group opened its third Genesis rooftop in the Golden State, Genesis of San Bruno, a stand-alone dealership serving the San Francisco Bay Area.
Read More →
August Auto Sales a Mixed Bag
An early forecast shows strong business despite consumer hurdles, and hybrids are a big piece of their affordability coping strategy.
Read More →
EV Market Humming Along
July sales show steady growth as the segment stabilizes from last year’s artificial surge following pullback of federal support.
Read More →
Auto Loan Delinquency Rates Stabilize
Auto loans are a main driver of nonmortgage consumer debt, but delinquency rates stabilized in the second quarter across all credit risk tiers.
Read More →
EV Sales Recover in Q2
The EV sales roller coaster continues as numbers show improvement, but industry experts predict a year-over-year third-quarter decline and fourth-quarter jump.
Read More →
The Cheapest Hybrids to Fuel
The powertrain is increasing in popularity, in no small part due to its fuel economy. A new report lists the most efficient hybrids on the market.
Read More →
Hybrids and SUVs Gaining Ground
The most recent Kelley Blue Book Brand Watch found that only two nonluxury brands increased in shopper consideration, buoyed by their hybrid and SUV offerings.
Read More →