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Toyota Responds to NHTSA Announcement on Airbag Disconnection

18 November 1997

Toyota Responds to NHTSA Announcement on Airbag Disconnection

    TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 18, -- Toyota Motor Sales, USA (TMS),
Inc., issued the following statement in response to the National Highway
Traffic and Safety Administration's (NHTSA) announcement about airbags.  This
statement is attributable to James Olson, TMS senior vice president, external
affairs.
    "NHTSA has placed automakers and dealers between the rock of regulation
and the hard place of customer concern.  Based on research and real-world
experience, Toyota continues to believe that airbag supplemental restraint
systems -- when properly used with seatbelts -- are an effective way to save
lives and minimize crash impact injuries for the vast majority of motorists
and their passengers and should remain fully functional.  However, although we
will not force our dealers to perform any vehicle modifications, we will work
to ensure customer satisfaction."

SOURCE  Toyota Motor Sales, USA