The president of Japanese auto giant Toyota, under fire after the company was forced to make massive global safety recalls, on Monday apologised to consumers in China, the world's biggest car market, reported AFP.
Akio Toyoda bowed in apology to hundreds of journalists assembled at a Beijing hotel, just days after he said sorry to angry US lawmakers in Washington for faulty accelerator pedals blamed for more than 30 deaths.
Toyota has recalled more than 75,000 of its RAV4 sport utility vehicles made in China over faulty accelerators.
China's product safety watchdog last week also warned drivers of imported Toyotas to have their cars -- including the Tundra, Camry and Corolla models -- checked for possible defects.
The Japanese auto giant's sales in China surged 53 percent year on year in January, but the recalls have already dampened demand, leading Toyota to start discount sales, the Nikkei business daily said.
Shigeru Matsumura, an auto analyst at SMBC Friend Research Center, noted: "After China, he will likely make his next stop in Europe."
Toyota has been under fire since January over a rash of defects and its delays in informing the public about them.
At least 34 deaths have been blamed on sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles, according to complaints filed with US authorities.
A Toyota China official at the press conference said the company still hopes to sell more than 800,000 vehicles in China this year.
