LaHood Says Stop Driving Recalled Toyotas, Then Retracts
  • Toyota Motor Corp. shares sank rapidly Wednesday after U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood advised in congressional testimony that people stop driving any cars involved in the Toyota recall, though the declines eased somewhat after the secretary clarified his statement.

    Testifying before the House Appropriations committee, LaHood was asked what advice he would give to owners of Toyotas subject to the recall. LaHood was scheduled to speak to the committee, which controls the government's spending, about the fiscal 2011 budget proposals.

    "My advice is, if anybody owns one of these vehicles, stop driving it, take it to the Toyota dealer because they believe they have the fix for it," LaHood said.

    Afterwards he told reporters that wasn't what he meant to say.


Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I really wouldn't put it past this administration to think it can prop up the fortunes of government-run GM and Chrysler by hurting Toyota's business.