Zogby International

Released: February 23, 2010

Zogby Interactive: Americans Willing to Give Toyota a Break

85% of Toyota owners believe brand is more or equally safe as other vehicles. Overall, majority of adults says same (64%)

UTICA, New York - As safety questions, recall complications and threats of legal action continue to mount against Toyota, a new Zogby Interactive poll shows some potential good news for the beleaguered Japanese auto manufacturer. Large numbers of Americans view Toyota vehicles as equally or more safe as other vehicles, and majorities of those surveyed say Toyota's recent safety issues are unlikely to impact their future car purchasing plans.

The Zogby Interactive survey of 2,068 adults nationwide found 64% of those surveyed feel Toyotas are, on average, more safe (18%) or equally safe (47%) as other vehicles. Among those who currently own or lease a Toyota, the numbers are even higher, with 85% believing Toyota vehicles are more safe (39%) or equally safe (47%) as other vehicles. The survey was conducted Feb. 17 through Feb. 19, 2010 and carries a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percentage points.

Do you think Toyota vehicles are, on average, more safe, less safe, or equally safer than other vehicles?

	General public	Currently own/lease Toyota
More safe	18%	38%
Equally safe	47%	47%
Less Safe	22%	7%
Not Sure	13%	8%

The survey also asked Americans whether Toyota's recent safety issues would change their likelihood of purchasing either a Toyota or a car from an American company in the near future. Majorities of both the general public and current Toyota owners reported that Toyota's troubles had "no impact" on their likelihood of buying either a Toyota or car from an American company:

How has your likelihood of the following changed as a result of the recent safety issues affecting Toyota:

Buying a Toyota in the near future

	General public	Currently own/lease Toyota
More likely	3%	7%
No impact	59%	65%
Less likely	35%	23%
Not Sure	4%	6%

Buying a car from an American car company in the near future

	General public	Currently own/lease Toyota
More likely	30%	19%
No impact	58%	62%
Less likely	7%	14%
Not Sure	5%	5%

A sampling of Zogby International's online panel, which is representative of the adult population of the US, was invited to participate. Slight weights were added to region, party, age, race, religion, gender, education to more accurately reflect the population. The margin of error is +/- 2.2 percentage points. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups.

(2/23/2010)

Tags: US | Technology

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Zogby Interactive: Americans Willing to Give Toyota a Break

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