Toyota boosts truck output

[tgagneguam]

Toyota boosts truck output

Automaker's plant in Mexico is its fifth assembly plant in North America.

By Christine Tierney / The Detroit News

TIJUANA, Mexico -- Toyota Motor Corp. marked the formal opening Tuesday of its fifth North American assembly plant in the Mexican border state of Baja California as part of a plan to boost production in the region.

Besides the new 700-acre site on the outskirts of Tijuana, Toyota is building a factory in Texas where it plans to assemble full-size pickups next year.

The $140 million Baja California plant was originally slated to build truck beds for Tacoma pickups produced at New United Motor Manufacturing Inc, a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors Corp. in Fremont, Calif.

But the Mexican plant was expanded to begin production of Tacoma pickups in December. It will produce 30,000 vehicles a year, mostly for the U.S. market, and could be modified easily to make 50,000 a year, Toyota officials said.

"The Tacoma trucks will play a big role in Toyota's sales plan in North America," said Kosuke Ikebuchi, Toyota Motor Corp.'s vice chairman, at a festive opening ceremony attended by high-ranking Mexican officials. "The rivalry is fierce in this segment, and we need to build vehicles that our customers truly desire."

Toyota sold just over 2 million vehicles last year in the United States, and produced 1.44 million in North America. Under the Japanese automaker's latest plans, it will have capacity to produce 1.66 million cars and trucks a year in the region by 2006.

Full article

[tgagneguam]

God, I'm so sick of hearing this type of news from Toyota. It would be refreshing for Toyota to have at least one bad quarter. I think we're smart enough to realize that that won't happen any time soon.

[Mcmflow]

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

God, I'm so sick of hearing this type of news from Toyota. It would be refreshing for Toyota to have at least one bad quarter. I think we're smart enough to realize that that won't happen any time soon.

I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon!

[ElmerMCR]

Originally Posted by Mcmflow

I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon!

Nope.

[goblue]

See Chapter 11 post on what will happen if Toyota does to trucks what they did to cars. They are starting to seriously encroach on the high profit sectors of GM.

Although, we're sort of asking for it - putting the colorado and canyon up against the competition, only the Ranger is the clear loser behind GM. The rest are equal or better even with price as a factor.

[gmsickofan]

Die, Toyota, die! Sorry, I had to get that out.

Detroit needs to unify against the evil that is Toyota, before Detroit-based companies all just fade away into memory and we all work for Fujio Cho.

[Infiniti Z350]

Originally Posted by gmsickofan

Die, Toyota, die! Sorry, I had to get that out.

Detroit needs to unify against the evil that is Toyota, before Detroit-based companies all just fade away into memory and we all work for Fujio Cho.

I don't know if you're kidding or not, but if you are you're too serious.

[Tony's BlkGTP]

I feel the same way as gmsickofan. I will be so glad when Toyota does something to make themselves fall flat on their faces. Or at least GM continues their stride and really put them in their place. Come on Ford, do a better job and earn your second place rating back from the crappy company.

If you can't tell, I can't stand Toyotas at all and that includes Lexus too. To me, that are overpriced, overrated pieces of crap.

[free_energy0]

Is the hate for Toyota around here from a sense of nationalism? What is the reason for disliking them so much? (dont say boring cars, cause GM is just as guilty)

[Infiniti Z350]

Originally Posted by free_energy0

Is the hate for Toyota around here from a sense of nationalism? What is the reason for disliking them so much? (dont say boring cars, cause GM is just as guilty)

I'm not claiming to be a mind reader but I believe nationalism is part of it. Another part IMO, is that Toyota (and Honda) rarely get bad press. They are often praised very highly (most of to time rightly so for what the cars are) while the American automakers are mostly held on a lower esteem. Now sometimes they are right but a lot of media publications I'll admit do seem to nitpick more on American cars. Also, some of the praise that Honda and Toyota get can be a little much.

Now, having said that, let me ask what is the point of disliking an automaker just because it gets good press? Yes, I realize the majority of you are GM/American car fans and want to support them but that doesn't mean you have to outright dislike every other kind of car (those of you that do). Respecting another company doesn't make you any less a enthusiast of your favorite brand. For instance, I largely prefer Nissans and Infinitis (I don't even like Hondas and Toyotas myself) but I still respect many products from other companies (GTO, Corvette, XLR, etc..).

My point is there's a big difference between being a fanboy (intolerant of everybody's brand but their own) and a true enthusiast. Sorry if I came off as being long-winded.

[gmsickofan]

Yes, I realize the majority of you are GM/American car fans and want to support them but that doesn't mean you have to outright dislike every other kind of car

I like a lot of other cars, including many import brands. Mazda is probably my favorite non-GM brand.

I dislike Toyota for the reasons you gave:

1. They can do no wrong
2. Their new products are praised for having "Toyota Quality" before they have even hit the streets.
3. They are making an effort to surpass GM and probably will if GM doesn't get with it.
4. They still keep most management headquartered in Japan and much of their profits flowing there, and I'd rather see a home-grown company succeed and offer me real engineering (not just "design") work than work in a menial job in a manual labor position in a factory run by Toyota.

I've also found that people who say that "patriotism" or dare I say "jingoism" is the main factor for liking GM are not so open-minded as they think but are actually "pro-import" and get a kind of twisted glee from watching American companies crushed into a pulp, and associate pride of ownership with particular import brands with a certain political slant or socioeconomic status.

My "hate" for Toyota is mostly a joke, but I sure do get tired of the relentless positive press they've been getting.

[ricers-shaft-big3]

there are 2 types of emotions

envy and jealousy

envy: = admiration for someone else's success and a wish that one could emulate that success; this is a positive emotion

jealousy: = hated for the other person's success and a desire that something bad happens to the opponent (as opposed to hoping that something good happens to yourself)

right now what we see is jealousy and not envy

[GMfan2381]

Originally Posted by gmsickofan

I like a lot of other cars, including many import brands. Mazda is probably my favorite non-GM brand.

I dislike Toyota for the reasons you gave:

1. They can do no wrong
2. Their new products are praised for having "Toyota Quality" before they have even hit the streets.
3. They are making an effort to surpass GM and probably will if GM doesn't get with it.
4. They still keep most management headquartered in Japan and much of their profits flowing there, and I'd rather see a home-grown company succeed and offer me real engineering (not just "design") work than work in a menial job in a manual labor position in a factory run by Toyota.

I've also found that people who say that "patriotism" or dare I say "jingoism" is the main factor for liking GM are not so open-minded as they think but are actually "pro-import" and get a kind of twisted glee from watching American companies crushed into a pulp, and associate pride of ownership with particular import brands with a certain political slant or socioeconomic status.

My "hate" for Toyota is mostly a joke, but I sure do get tired of the relentless positive press they've been getting.

Im in the same boat as you my friend. Im definately not jealous of them by any means. Its more of an anger issue for me, people make them out to be the greatest company ever... Kinda like turning an inch into a mile in my eyes.

[Tiger]

Looks like they are assuming the new models will outsell the old ones. The old Tacoma was awful. The current Tundra hums along selling 80-100,000 units/year. Yawn. The old Tacoma was averaging 150,000 units.

Not much of a sales roar for the "new" Toyota Tundra Double Cab. More people seem to be trying the Nissan Titan! Around here the Tundra is being aggressively advertised at $2,000 rebate plus 0% financing for 48 months. Call me crazy, but that is a considerable incentive for Toyota IMHO.

The new Toyota Tacoma should sell well once the dealer gouging stops. Still, it's never had to compete against so many players until now! (Nissan Frontier, Honda Ridgeline, Dodge Dakota). Plus Tacoma's traditional buyers wanting a compact, fuel efficient truck will have to buy a Chevrolet Colorado!

It will be interesting to see how this all pans out.

[Boost]

You hate Toyota yet it produced 1.44 million in North America, Thats alot of jobs.

, a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors Corp. in Fremont, Calif.

Call me crazy but why is GM helping Toyota break into the one segment the US car makers still control like 95%