Toyota Motor Corporation’s CEO met with the Japanese Prime Minister on Monday. Akio Toyoda says he received words of encouragement during the meeting.

Toyoda says his company will emphasize safety and transparency in the wake of massive recalls that have plagued the company in recent months.

[Akio Toyoda, Toyota CEO]:
"From now on, we want to dedicate ourselves to make more high quality cars. We want people to consider Toyota a company that both values transparency and puts the customer first. "

Despite a sharp decline in sales last month in the U.S., Toyota’s CEO is confident sales in North America will recover in March.

[Akio Toyoda, Toyota CEO]:
"I consider recovery possible and in the future we will do our best to carry out, at the same time, the recall (of problematic vehicles) and the recovery (of the company). Our dealers are working towards this and doing their best."

Toyoda also met with Japan’s transport minister to brief him on the recalls.

Toyoda testified at a U.S. congressional hearing last month about the recalls that affected more than 8.5 million vehicles worldwide.