Will Toyada put the brakes on in D.C.?

This will interesting to see how this plays out in the United States. With the heat (and wrist slap) the US financial industry received over the current financial crisis, I wonder if Toyada will reap the backlash of the angry consumer and some Japan-bashing by those in D.C. needing to throw a curve ball to the American public? Here a quick look at the article:

Akio Toyoda, the mysterious scion of the Toyota empire, is apologizing Wednesday before a House committee investigating deadly flaws that sparked the recall of 8.5 million cars.Toyoda, the automaker's 53-year-old chief executive, says the company grew too fast to keep up with safety controls."We pursued growth over the speed at which we were able to develop our people and our organization," Toyoda said in testimony prepared for delivery Wednesday. "I regret that this has resulted in the safety issues described in the recalls we face today, and I am deeply sorry for any accidents that Toyota drivers have experienced."Lawmakers indicated they will continue to push Toyoda for answers on whether his company's top-selling cars and trucks are safe to drive. The Transportation Department's vehicle safety division also faces continued questions over whether it took the problem seriously enough and paid attention to warnings signs with Toyotas long before the recalls.Toyoda's three-page statement departs somewhat from his native formality. In it, Toyoda emphasizes that he personally test-drives Toyotas. And he makes a personal appeal for credibility."My name is on every car," he says.

Click here for more.[ad#468x60-ad]