Why Toyota Is Afraid Of Being Number One

[QueenCityTitan]

It's overtaking Detroit —with trepidation. Now, the carmaker is relying on ever-savvier PR to avoid the U.S. backlash it dreads.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...eek+exclusives

[Carbeaux]

That's an interesting read. Thanks!

[MuskyHunter]

Very good article. A lot of money is getting distributed in order to stay in favor with consumers and politicians. This is also a lot of cash on the line to gain favor of buyers in the heartland:

" Knowing what it's up against, Toyota has rolled out a $300 million marketing campaign for the Tundra." I guess it takes money to make money.

[BRACEYOSELF777]

Even though the money goes back to Japan....that money circulates back into America. The money we pay the workers stays in America and creates more jobs for more Americans...unlike the Big Three which are laying people off and shutting down factories to what? Save money. To make a budget. This is how I see it, the money the Big Three makes does go back to America but towards white collard workers. Little trickles back down to the common blue collar workers and it doesn't make any more jobs for them.

[TitanThunder]

Toyota is marketing the Tundra extremely well. Nissan should do this when they give the Titan a makeover in the near future.

[FLfinfan]

I like the new Tundra more everyday. Can't say the same for the dealers. But thats pretty much industry wide, not just Toyota.

[Carbeaux]

Originally Posted by BRACEYOSELF777

Even though the money goes back to Japan....that money circulates back into America. The money we pay the workers stays in America and creates more jobs for more Americans...unlike the Big Three which are laying people off and shutting down factories to what? Save money. To make a budget. This is how I see it, the money the Big Three makes does go back to America but towards white collard workers. Little trickles back down to the common blue collar workers and it doesn't make any more jobs for them.

I'm afraid you completely lost me here.

http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/auto/domes...ts/Jobloss.pdf

It's 2005 info, but interesting anyway.

[Steamguy]

They should be afraid. I agree with the poster who said "They've had a free ride from the public for all these years." Wait until they have some serious scrutiny. Although I can't factually prove the opinion of the poster who calls Toyota "The Recall King," there may be something to that.

For sure, the dealer arrogance is going to play into a lot of it. I went to look at a Toyota, and I noticed that the sticker seemed to be high. That was before I got the attempted indoctrination into The Toyota Mindset. I tend to resist such attempts at mindsnatching, and ended up walking out without a test drive.

Further showing the arrogance: I called my brother who 'floors' dealerships for the bank, and he said, "They're all marked up by $2,000 on the sticker. The Sales Manager laughed when I (my brother) pointed this out. The SM said, 'That's so everybody thinks they're getting a great deal when we finally "give up" and knock off a grand or two.'"

Guys, prove me wrong, here: Ask people who've recently bought a Toyota, and see if they say that 'they got a great deal.' Ask how much they got off the sticker price.

[Shane06fl]

People that buy Toyota's tend to stick with them even the converts that drove on of the big three vehicles. Toyota makes a damn fine vehicle and if the big three did the same we wouldn't be having this discussion. Toyota is playing it smart. They will eventually get more market share in the Midwest and when they do they will take over. the big 3 need to get their a$$'s off their shoulders and build a better vehicle, these extra mileage warranties aren't enough. I am no labor union expert but from what I have read the UAW union has just about ruined the big three and I don't blame them a bit for running to Canada and Mexico to build vehicles.

That damn ugly as all sin Tundra will sell. Despite it's looks it is still a good truck.

Nissan builds a damn fine vehicle also. I have owned 3 trucks in the past that gave me great service and dependability. Own two more right now. My oldest sister is on number 3 and my parents have a Sentra that they put around in. Nothing but great service out of any of these vehicle. For some reason Nissan is the red headed stepchild of Toyota and doesn't get the recognition it deserves. Nissan needs get their wallets out and do some serious advertising. They need to revamp the looks of the Titan, I think the current drive train is fine and as gas keeps going up the willingness to spend $$$$ for more HP and less MPG might keep Nissan on top. They need nix the Maxima an stay with the Altima. the Fronty is a great little truck but they and Toyota need to keeping building the economy truck. I like the Fronty and that New Taco is a sharp truck but come on they aren't much cheaper than a Titan and MPG isn't much better either. A $15000 4x4 4 banger x-cab is perfect a young persons first truck.

[BRACEYOSELF777]

Originally Posted by Carbeaux

I'm afraid you completely lost me here.

http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/auto/domes...ts/Jobloss.pdf

It's 2005 info, but interesting anyway.

Sorry.

[dascrow]

I agree about Toyota making more Jobs here.

this in the news today:

Mississippi Expects to Be Site of a Toyota Assembly Plant
Initially, the factory will build 150,000 vehicles a year, most likely the Highlander, a crossover vehicle whose sister car is the Lexus RX 350, according to the reports. The plant is to open in 2009.

The Toyota plant would be the second big auto factory in Mississippi and would be an economic boost after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005

[BKW]

I just wonder how successful Toyota, Honda, Nissan et al would be if their factories were union. Everyone beats down the products of GM, Ford and DC, but they've been under the thumb of the UAW since the 1930's (Ford 1941).

Personally I feel that all the "foreign" companies that have built in the US have had a tremendous advantage since day one, being free of the UAW clutches.

Chrysler is for sale, so far no takers. Chrysler has 16.7 BILLION DOLLARS in unfunded health care costs. A report today in autonews states that in order for Diamler-Benz to get rid of Chrysler, they may have to pay someone billions of dollars to relieve them of it.

My personal take on this is the Germans, Japanese and Koreans are getting a free ride here at the expense of the Big 3, such as it is.

[Orange Crush]

Originally Posted by dascrow

I agree about Toyota making more Jobs here.

this in the news today:

Mississippi Expects to Be Site of a Toyota Assembly Plant
Initially, the factory will build 150,000 vehicles a year, most likely the Highlander, a crossover vehicle whose sister car is the Lexus RX 350, according to the reports. The plant is to open in 2009.

The Toyota plant would be the second big auto factory in Mississippi and would be an economic boost after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005

also from money-cnn:

Toyota is under pressure to boost production in the region to avoid potential political fallout from a jump in the number of vehicles shipped from Japan to the United States. Last year, just half of the vehicles it sold in the United States were built in North America, compared with a rate of more than 70 percent for both Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co.

[Carbeaux]

Originally Posted by BKW

Personally I feel that all the "foreign" companies that have built in the US have had a tremendous advantage since day one, being free of the UAW clutches.

My personal take on this is the Germans, Japanese and Koreans are getting a free ride here at the expense of the Big 3, such as it is.

Very true BKW. Wouldn't this also be why many of our Big 3's products are manufactured elsewhere too though? I can't help but think it's not just cheaper labor at the hourly wage level, but cheaper overall as well. What's your take on that thought?

[BKW]

Originally Posted by Carbeaux

Very true BKW. Wouldn't this also be why many of our Big 3's products are manufactured elsewhere too though? I can't help but think it's not just cheaper labor at the hourly wage level, but cheaper overall as well. What's your take on that thought?

Of course, they've had to go off shore to compete. Add $1500.00 to every US made car to cover health care and other UAW benefits. Labor is cheaper in Canada, much cheaper in Mexico. It's not just the car biz either..look at Levi Strauss...profit was slim and none for years. As soon as they moved offshore, profits came back.

Then take into consideration there are no Government watchdogs, no UAW, no OSHA, no EPA, no DOT, no NHTSB in places like Mexico, where job security is nil. Miss a day at work, kiss your job goodbye, there are 1000's waiting to take your place.

Brand bashing is huge on Big 3 websites..I had no idea how much. It's unbelievable how some people justify buying "American" whatever that means today. Most hate Toyota/Nissan with a passion, they'd rather buy a Mexican whatever, than a car made here by a "ferin" company. Trying to convince them otherwise, is like talking to a brick wall.


Wanna laugh? Most are totally pi$$ed off that Camry is running in NASCAR, calling it a sellout. One cornhole said.."more domestic" competition is needed.
Someone..not saying who, said.."yeah, you're right...maybe Nissan and Honda will enter NASCAR, since those cars are built here, as well as the Camry..meanwhile the Dodge and Chevy raced in NASCAR are built in Canada, the Fusion in Mexico."


Of course, nothing that is raced anymore is real in NASCAR. The bodies are based on the Chevy Monte Carlo, the chassis is custom made..the only thing real is the powertrain. The decals mimicing the looks of the real cars front end are stuck on. The old adage of "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday" is impossible, as nothing raced today can be bought anywhere on the planet, on Monday, or any other day.