Lesson for all carmakers

The press conference Toyota chief Akio Toyoda held on short notice yesterday in Beijing highlighted the increasing importance of the Chinese auto market.

Days after receiving harsh scrutiny from the United States Congress, the president of the world's largest automaker visited China to reassure consumers about the quality and safety of its cars.

Compared with its response in the US after the Japanese carmaker announced a US recall of about 2.3 million vehicles in January, Toyota's current efforts to salvage its reputation appear more timely.