Nasa called in to help solve Toyota cars mystery

The space agency scientists, with expertise in electronics, will help the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study potential electronic ties to unintended acceleration in Toyotas.

Transportation secretary Ray LaHood said Nasa's knowledge of

electronics, computer hardware and software and hazard analysis would ensure a comprehensive review.

In a separate study, the National Academy of Sciences will examine unwanted acceleration and electronic vehicle controls in cars from around the auto industry. The academy is an independent organisation chartered by Congress.

The academy study, expected to take 15 months, will review acceleration problems and recommend how to ensure the safety of vehicle electronic control systems.

"We believe their outside expertise, fresh eyes and fresh research perhaps can tell us if electronics have played a role in these accelerations," Mr LaHood said. Toyota has recalled more than eight million vehicles worldwide, including six million in the US.

It has blamed sticking accelerator pedals and accelerators that can become jammed in floor mats. But consumer groups say electronics could be the culprit and dozens of Toyota owners who had their cars fixed in the recall have complained of more problems with their vehicles surging forward unexpectedly.

Regulators have linked 52 deaths in Toyotas to crashes allegedly caused by accelerator problems.

Meanwhile Toyota held its first meeting of a special committee of quality control experts in key overseas regions – including North America.

"I invite you to join me in working with our colleagues worldwide to regain consumer confidence," Toyota president Akio Toyoda said in kicking off the meeting of about 70 executives, workers and representatives from its global operations in central Japan.

"Let us pool our wisdom and work hand in hand toward achieving that goal. And let this gathering today be our first step."

In an effort to beef up quality checks, Toyota said it would set up four additional facilities to train employees in quality control modelled after the training centre it already has in Japan.

Toyota said it had also decided to install a system that allows the brakes to work if pressed together with the accelerator.

High price for electric vehicle

Nissan's new electric car will cost 26,500 when it goes on sale in Japan this year.

The Leaf, which is also being built in Britain and the US, will be less expensive than other zero-emission vehicles but is still out of reach for many drivers.

Deliveries of the four-door hatchback will start in December and customers in Japan will be able to place orders from Thursday. Orders in the US start on April 20, and soon after that in Europe.

But the range of the car – 100 miles on a single charge – and the high price is a major obstacle.