Prius to USA, All Tundras to Texas

[Ambalanche]

I'm just tired of hearing how wonderful Toyota is even when they are having problems too.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by Ambalanche

I'm just tired of hearing how wonderful Toyota is even when they are having problems too.

As am I. It's time that toyota got their fair share of criticism as well.
Sometimes I just wonder why America hates GM so much.

[nikivee]

Originally Posted by likearock00

Boy, I bet they're wishing they never put that much money into the new Tundra now. They've got plenty of cash so this probably doesn't hurt too bad, but I'm sure they're disappointed to say the least.

What are you talking about? I think GM should be kicking themselves in the ass more than anyone else for pushing trucks and stupid SUV's all these years while forgoing good fuel effiecient cars.

[neshapop]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

As am I. It's time that toyota got their fair share of criticism as well.
Sometimes I just wonder why America hates GM so much.

The same approach and mindset as hating the parents too. Somebody has to be a sandbag to release frustration for the emptiness of the soul or poor life choices.

[jbernie]

Originally Posted by Rex Raider

o Prius will be built at a plant under construction in Blue Springs, Miss. Production is scheduled to begin in late 2010. Prius, which will join the Kentucky-built Camry Hybrid as the second Toyota hybrid built in North America, enables Toyota to better respond to increased consumer demand for hybrid vehicles.

Where are the fan boys? That is over 2 years from now. The market needs the Prius now and it is going to take 2 years?

Oh wait, it is Toyota, they are are hero and will save us from everything.


(sarcasm off)

[vcs2600]

Originally Posted by neshapop

Did all Toyota employees get a signal to spread graet news about Prius but somehow to tuck under the carpet that all Tundra production is shut down for next 3 months?

Actually this is great public relations. The media will lead with the Prius story (hybrid! jobs!) and push the truck news below the fold.

Also, AFAICT Toyota never even bothered advertising the new Sequoia. Probably wanted to keep it a secret as to not harm their green image.

[CTGentleman]

2010? It must be starting with the next generation Prius.

[oct1]

Originally Posted by member12

Exactly!

A diverse lineup means you won't have many surprises (pleasant or unpleasant) when the market rapidly shifts like it has over the last 8 months.

GM needs a very competative product at every segment that Toyota competes.

Great cars, crossovers, SUVs, and trucks of all sizes......Right now, if gas prices drop to $2.30/gallon (it's just as likely as $5.90/gallon), GM has no real competative mid sized trucks and SUVs, but they have great full sized products.

When the gas prices when up, they had great sports compacts, but average compacts and very out dated subcompacts....and no affordable hybrids (BAS doesn't count).

GM does have a diverse lineup. They have very small cars in Europe (Chevy Matiz) to very long and sporty cars in Australia (HSV427) and everything else in between in different parts of the world. The difference being GM's plants are older and not as flexible as Toyota's.

[PhishPhood]

Originally Posted by jbernie

Where are the fan boys? That is over 2 years from now. The market needs the Prius now and it is going to take 2 years?

Oh wait, it is Toyota, they are are hero and will save us from everything.


(sarcasm off)

It was announced 3-4 months ago, reported here as well, that Prius production 'this year' would jump 60%. 'This year' prolly means their fiscal/production year which begins in May/June I believe.

[ericmvest]

Originally Posted by vcs2600

Actually this is great public relations. The media will lead with the Prius story (hybrid! jobs!) and push the truck news below the fold.

Also, AFAICT Toyota never even bothered advertising the new Sequoia. Probably wanted to keep it a secret as to not harm their green image.

You are right. Toyota spends a ton of money on PR and does an effective job with it. A contributing factor in Toyota's PR success is that many American journalists have an anti-American business bias and want the Japanese firms to succeed and the America firms to fail. In my opinion Toyota is more successful in its PR efforts than they are in building compelling automobiles and trucks.

[Psionic Wibbly]

wow! i'm amazed and absolutely gobsmacked by the speed at which their brain works! they sure move faster than a rattlesnake in a bind!

while "Maximum" bob lutz has just announced that he is planning to decide about giving a higher priority to thinking about getting small cars to the USA in 2010, these guys have already decided, about whole manufacturing plants and are ready to move into action

this is one of the reasons why toyohondassan will always be 2 jumps ahead of the domestics.

[Bggriffi]

I was worried the new plant would hire a bunch of people and then lay them off due to low demand for SUVs. Looks like the MS jobs are a lot more secure now. If my state must have a Toyota plant, at least its gonna be making a popular car and not an SUV.

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by Psionic Wibbly

wow! i'm amazed and absolutely gobsmacked by the speed at which their brain works! they sure move faster than a rattlesnake in a bind!

while "Maximum" bob lutz has just announced that he is planning to decide about giving a higher priority to thinking about getting small cars to the USA in 2010, these guys have already decided, about whole manufacturing plants and are ready to move into action

this is one of the reasons why toyohondassan will always be 2 jumps ahead of the domestics.

It also helps that the majority of their plants are newer and much more flexible than GM's or the rest of the Domestic's plants. They also don't have 3 year union contracs to worry about when changing production plans.

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

Originally Posted by vcs2600

Actually this is great public relations. The media will lead with the Prius story (hybrid! jobs!) and push the truck news below the fold.

Also, AFAICT Toyota never even bothered advertising the new Sequoia. Probably wanted to keep it a secret as to not harm their green image.

Ha ha ha. I nominate this as "Post of the Year".

Yep, the great Toyota PR machine at work again aided and abeted by the self-loathing American press. Yep, I went to MSNBC.com during lunch and noticed they had a big story on the "Prius Coming to America' with a nice phat link, then just below that in very small font with a small link, 'Toyota Suspends Tundra Production'. <I couldn't help but chuckle a cynical little laugh.>

[masrapido]

Originally Posted by New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66

Yep, the great Toyota PR machine at work again aided and abeted by the self-loathing American press. Yep, I went to MSNBC.com during lunch and noticed they had a big story on the "Prius Coming to America' with a nice phat link, then just below that in very small font with a small link, 'Toyota Suspends Tundra Production'. <I couldn't help but chuckle a cynical little laugh.>

I don't really see the big deal here. Prius (Toyota) fan or not, shifting production inside US borders is a good thing. Suspending Tundra production while keeping workers employed is also smart. I don't think MSNBC is trying to hide anything, if that's what you're getting at. The Tundra's damage to Toyota's reputation among the green crowd has already been done. If anything, news of a slash in Tundra production would make them happy. The Prius production shift is simply the more relevant story.

By the way, I am by no means suggesting that the media has not "aided and abeted" Toyota in the past. But in this instance, I'm not seeing it.