Executive Leadership

Rapid Growth Has Its Perils, Toyota Learns

Toyota's rapid growth from 2002 to 2010 garnered it 15% of the global auto industry, surpassing General Motors as the world’s largest carmaker, but growth may have cost the automaker its reputation for quality as it extended to Europe the recall of vehicles with faulty accelerators. “There was always a question about how fast they could go,” James P. Womack, an author and expert on Toyota’s manufacturing methods, said of the automaker’s growth. “I’m sure they regret that they stomped on the gas so hard.”