Switzerland to equip buses, trams with air quality sensors

Filed under: Etc., Transportation Alternatives, Europe/EU
Here’s a novel idea: rather than installing air quality sensors in fixed locations, why not use mobile sensors to collect data in an evenly spread-out area?
OpenSense, a project run by EPFL, a federally funded institute of technology located in Switzerland, and ETH Zurich, a science and technology university in Zurich, [...]

Study: London’s congestion charge lessens traffic; has not improved air quality

Filed under: Etc., Europe/EU, UK

London’s Congestion Charging Scheme (CCS), which was implemented back in 2003 to reduce traffic volume in central London, has had virtually no impact on air quality, according to a study published by the Health Effects Institute (HEI). The study, “The Impact of the Congestion Charging Scheme on Air Quality in London,” [...]

Report: Toyota audit uncovers ‘misunderstanding’ among suppliers about quality checks

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Recalls, Safety, Toyota

Toyota has a long history of building high-quality cars and trucks, but the recent recall of over eight million vehicles for unintended acceleration-related issues showed that no company is without flaws. Toyota has since worked hard to correct the chinks in its armor, adding 40 quality engineers in Toyota City [...]

Toyota to open six new product quality field offices

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Toyota
As part of its efforts to improve its responsiveness to customer complaints, Toyota is adding six new product quality field offices (PQFO) around North America starting this month. The new offices are to be co-located with Toyota Motor Sales regional offices and focus on investigating and addressing customer issues like reports [...]

Report: Chinese car quality complaints on the rise

Filed under: China, Recalls, Safety

Just when we thought China’s automotive industry had made some headway in the quality department, we get word that complaints about new car quality in the country have risen significantly over the past few months. During the first quarter of this year, complains on vehicles purchased within the last six months [...]

Toyota names leader of North American Quality Task Force

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Toyota

When news of Toyota’s recent recall woes began spreading across the U.S., many loyal customers were shocked at what they were hearing. But some customers that were experiencing the very issues that lead to those recalls were likely less surprised, as tales of poor and frustrating customer service showed that Toyota [...]

Former U.S. Sec. of Transportation to lead Toyota Quality Advisory Panel

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Toyota

An independent advisory panel has been formed to help Toyota get a handle on its quality issues. With all of the current headlines relating to Toyota recalls and defects, the independent North American Quality Advisory Panel has been convened to study and give the automaker advice on quality and safety [...]

Akio Toyoda outlines quality reform, won’t attend U.S. hearings

Filed under: Japan, Recalls, Toyota

In a press conference on Wednesday in Tokyo, Toyota Motor Company’s president Akio Toyoda (grandson of the company’s founder) revealed new details of his plan to reform the automaker’s quality standards. Toyota has been beset by a trio of high-profile recalls, two of which involve unintended acceleration caused by either floormats [...]