More than a hundred taxi drivers gathered at the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) building yesterday to protest against Toyota for what they said was the company’s indifference toward its Taiwanese customers.
“Toyota has dispatched representatives to apologize to their customers in other countries,” said Kuo Ya-hsiung (郭雅雄), director of the Taipei City Taxi Drivers’ Union. “Taiwan has victims too. Why didn’t they send someone here to apologize? Is it because we are a small country? We are here for our dignity.”
Kuo said five members of the union who drive a Toyota had experienced unintended acceleration of their vehicles last month, although he added that he did not have detailed information on the incidents.
In a statement, the group said that a Toyota taxi caught fire because of an oil pipe leak on a freeway in February. The driver complained to his Toyota dealer and asked for compensation. Both sides, however, failed to reach agreement on the matter, the statement said.
The group also asked the MOTC to protect the interests of the Toyota drivers in Taiwan. While Toyota has recalled cars in other countries, this has not happened in Taiwan.
The MOTC did not comment on the protest.
The group later protested at Hotai Motor’s headquarters on Songjiang Rd in Taipei. Hotai Motor is Toyota’s local dealer. The headquarters was closed at the time of the protest.
In February, the MOTC said it had acted on a list of Toyota models affected by faulty pedals released by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and found that only five vehicles listed in the registration database in Taiwan needed repairs.
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