Safety takes centre stage

Brian Bonitto, Special Assignment Editor

Automakers worldwide were thrust into the unenviable glare of the recall of more than 20 million vehicles in 2010. These recalls also prompted tougher scrutiny from the authorities, to ensure the industry maintained required safety records.

World-number-one vehicle manufacturer, Toyota, suffered the brunt of this reputation-damaging - but life-saving - exercise, with the highest number of recalls, which the Associated Press put at 7.1 million units. The defects identified by the manufacturer ranged from faulty gas pedals to a defective braking system, stalling engines and floor mats that could trap accelerators pedals in the down position.

Toyota was also fined US$48.8 million by the USA government for its handling of three sets of recalls, dating back to 2004.

The ripple effects were felt globally, and local affiliate, Toyota Jamaica Limited, moved quickly to assure Jamaican customers of the safety of vehicles sold on the island. Toyota Jamaica Limited has been the sole authorised distributor in Jamaica for Japan's Toyota Motor Corporation and Daihatsu Motor Corporation, since February 2005.

"Jamaica is not affected by the recall. We can assure the Jamaican market place that the vehicles sold here don't have the problems that affect those that are being recalled," John Connell, managing director at the Spanish Town Road-based company, told Automotives at that time.

"The recall seems confined to the left-hand drive vehicles only. We know this because we are in constant contact with our parent company in Japan. All our vehicles come from Japan, with the exception of the Hilux, which is imported from Thailand, and they are all right-hand drive vehicles," the managing director said.

According to Associated Press reports, during 2010, General Motors Company also recalled about four million vehicles, whereas Honda and Nissan collectively recalled more than two million cars and trucks. In addition, Chrysler recalled about 1.5 million and Ford called back more than 500,000 vehicles.

German automakers Volkswagen and BMW were also affected with 380,000 and 150,000, respectively.

• Automobile brands change hands

Several LEADING auto brands changed hands during the course of last year with Stewart Motors Limited and ATL Automotive Limited shoring up their holdings.

The Diana and Richard Stewart-led Stewart Motors Limited — local dealers for BMW, Mini and Suzuki — acquired Mitsubishi and Mercedes-Benz with the winding up of the Issa Transport Group in late March.

"The industry has had its challenges as the sale of vehicles has fallen dramatically. However, we are in it for the long haul and, as the economy recovers, we expect to benefit from the upturn in sales," said Diana Stewart, managing director of the family-owned business in a Gleaner interview.

The Gordon 'Butch' Stewart-owned ATL Motors Ltd flexed its muscles and acquired the high-end brands Jaguar and Land Rover from the Spanish Town Road-based Kingston Industrial Garage (KIG) in September of last year.

By this move, Stewart - no relation to Diana and Richard - threw his hat into the ring as a serious player in the new-car arena.

"We deliberately went after those brands," said Adam Stewart, deputy chairman of the ATL Group and son of hotelier Gordon 'Butch' Stewart.

The ATL portfolio also includes Honda, Audi and Volkswagen.

- B.B.

Stewart