Toyota looks to Chicago Auto Show to get past questions of safety

Toyota looks to Chicago Auto Show to get past questions of safety
WBEZ/Tony Arnold
Toyota looks to Chicago Auto Show to get past questions of safety
WBEZ/Tony Arnold

Toyota looks to Chicago Auto Show to get past questions of safety

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Car makers are gearing up for the Chicago Auto Show which kicks off later this week and Toyota is hoping the show is a chance to get beyond its image issues related to safety concerns.

Toyota executive Bob Carter says the company is ready to move on past the questions about how safe its vehicles are.

“There’s many lessons learned from last year. And we are a much different company,” he said.

Carter said Toyota is developing the largest lineup of new products it has ever produced.

It comes after a recent report from the U.S. Department of Transportation clearing Toyota’s name in relation to electrical problems. The government was investigating reports of unintended acceleration issues among drivers. Despite the report, Carter said the company is still dealing with pending lawsuits.

“We’re moving on and we’ll deal with the legal aspects as a course of normal business,” he said.

Toyota recalled 12 million vehicles as a result of sticky gas pedals. Toyota was the only major automaker to see a U.S. sales decline last year.