Toyota CEO: "Back to Basics"

It’s back to basics for Toyota, the president and CEO emphasizes in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal ahead of the first congressional hearing over the massive safety recall.

Akio Toyoda says the last couple months have been very “humbling” for the company.

He also adds they are putting their customers first, and vows the company will do “much better” in responding to safety issues.

At the end of the piece, he references President Obama, saying that the president “has urged all auto makers to act quickly and decisively when problems are identified” and he looks forward to speaking to Congress and the American people about how they can do that.

Toyoda will testify before a hearing on Wednesday. Witnesses in Tuesday’s hearing include Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, David Strickland, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and James Lentz, president and COO of Toyota Motor Sales.

You can read the full op-ed in the Wall Street Journal here.