The head of embattled Japanese auto firm Toyota bowed to mounting pressure and agreed to appear before the United States Congress to answer concerns about safety. Akio Toyoda, scion of the Japanese car making family, is notoriously publicity-shy and had insisted he would not appear in person before Congress.

But following an invitation by Representative Edolphus Towns on Thursday he finally relented.

"I have received Congressman Towns’ invitation to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on February 24 and I accept. I look forward to speaking directly with Congress and the American people," Toyoda said in a brief statement.

Toyoda plans to speak to local media Friday at Toyota's headquarters in Nagoya, central Japan, Jiji Press reported.

The manufacturer is recalling more than 8 million cars worldwide over defects linked to more than 30 deaths. The iconic company, whose global expansion pushed it past General Motors in 2008 as world No. 1, is facing a litany of complaints ranging from unintended acceleration to brake failure and steering problems.

"President Toyoda should have announced his attendance much earlier as he has no choice but to appear before Congress under the current circumstances," Mamoru Kato, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Centre.

"Toyota Motor hopes to calm the issue with his appearance but it's unlikely," Kato said. "There is no sign of [this] blowing over as distrust with Toyota is quite serious, particularly in the United States."

The announcement by Toyoda came as the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration formally launched an investigation into complaints of steering problems in 2009 and 2010 models of the Toyota Matrix and Corolla.

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