US Senate hearing probes Toyota crisis

Toyota's North American operation is setting up a special outside panel to advise the company's affiliates there on quality and safety issues.

During a hearing on Tuesday, company officials told the US Senate Commerce Committee that the panel will have direct access to company president, Akio Toyoda.

It will also make sure the company's new safety and quality controls "conform to the best industry practices."

Toyota executives say they will give US safety regulators special Japanese electronic data recorders that will enable them to read the "black boxes" of Toyota units involved in sudden acceleration accidents.

(L-R) Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki of Toyota Motor Corporation, fellow Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada and Yoshimi Inaba, President and Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Motor North America testify at a U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation titled "Toyota's recalls and the government's response" on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 2, 2010. REUTERS/Jason Reed