Toyota and Congressional Hearings

Abraham Alberto, left, with two of his children Lilia and Douglas stands in his party store holding a memorial poster for his wife, Guadalupe Alberto, who was killed when the 2005 Toyota Camry she was driving crashed in Flint. (Photo courtesy of MSNBC)

Much like Tiger Woods, it now appears Toyota's image doesn't quite match reality. Peter Whoriskey and Kimberly Kindy of the Washington Post report on three deadly crashes involving Toyota's, including one that occurred in Flint:

But in each of those three fatal episodes, the car involved was a 2005 Toyota Camry, a model that the company has indicated is free of the acceleration defects: It has not been recalled for either the sticky pedal or the floor mat interference.

"This raises a huge red flag," said Clarence Ditlow, director of the Center for Auto Safety.

He and other safety advocates have their own suspicions, aroused by a history of glitchy behavior in the electronics that control Toyota's engines.

"Many unintended accelerations do not appear to be explained by floor mats and sticky pedals," said Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), who is holding the Tuesday hearing on the recalls. "One of the key questions we will ask at the hearing is whether electronic defects could be responsible."

Toyota officials declined to comment on the cases because they are in litigation.

One GM Truck You Might Not Want to Buy

G.M.'s chief Ed Whitacre (right) and some guy named Tiger Woods.

Bill Vlasic of The New York Times writes about new G.M. chief executive Ed Whitacre's recent visit to Flint:

Since taking over, Mr. Whitacre has wasted no time. He has promoted several young executives to senior positions, including naming Mark Reuss, a 46-year-old engineer, as head of North American operations.

Mr. Whitacre has also been meeting with employees at all levels of the company, including spending a day last week at G.M.’s pickup truck plant in Flint, Mich.

He went to Flint in a sweatshirt and jeans, and picked a spot on the assembly line. “I made them let me put a hood on a truck,” he said. “It looked like something I could handle.”

Closing Down the Buick Open?

Will the Buick Open be the next victim of the auto industry's woes?

Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News writes:

"When asked about the tournament's future beyond this year, local organizers aren't commenting, and General Motors has been mum about the situation. That only fuels speculation this year's tournament -- July 27-Aug. 2 -- could be the last for Buick."