The president of Toyota Motor Corp stated today  that he intended to give a "sincere explanation" about the company´s series of safety recalls when he testifies in the United States next week.

Toyoda, the grandson of Toyota´s founder, accepted an invitation to testify next Wednesday  before a congressional panel.

Toyoda had said he wanted to show that the firm is looking for the causes that led to the recall of about 8.5 million cars worldwide for problems with unintended acceleration and braking, according to Japanese media.

He previously told reporters that he would send the company´s North American chief, Yoshimi Inaba, and that he had no plans to appear before the panel himself.

The U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee invited Toyoda to the U.S.yesterday.

Analysts say Toyoda´s decision to testify is crucial to the automaker´s future especially in the U.S.

Up to 34 crash deaths have been blamed on unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles since 2000, according to complaints tracked by U.S. regulators.

The House oversight panel said it had also issued a subpoena for internal documents Toyota had fought to keep sealed in a legal battle with a former employee who had claimed the automaker routinely hid evidence of safety problems.