Toyota's chief says sorry for global car recalls

Tokyo : Toyota's president yesterday apologised for the automaker's global recalls and promised to beef up quality control by setting up a special committee he would head himself.

Toyota Motor Corp President Akio Toyoda said the automaker was still deciding what to do to fix braking problems with the popular Prius gas-electric hybrid.

Toyoda, grandson of Toyota's founder, was speaking at a hastily called news conference in Nagoya, Japan, which was shown at Toyota's Tokyo office by satellite feed. The automaker has acknowledged the new Prius that went on sale in May last year has braking problems.