Toyota, Nissan mull entering durable pickup truck segment

[Ming]

Toyota, Nissan mull entering durable pickup truck segment
Knight Ridder Newspapers
By Sarah H. Webster

DETROIT _ The fight between domestic and Asian automakers over the pickup truck market might soon move into the heavyweight category _ potentially jeopardizing sales, profits and jobs in Detroit.

Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. are both exploring whether to expand their full-size pickup trucks into one of the last strongholds of Detroit's automakers: the heavy-duty segment of the pickup truck market.

Heavy-duty pickups can carry and tow heavier loads than light-duty pickups. They are used primarily by commercial customers and are among the Detroit automakers' most profitable products.

"They are the only players right now," said Michael Robinet, vice president of the forecast firm CSM Worldwide Inc. in Farmington Hills, Mich., of Detroit automakers.

General Motors Corp. builds most of its heavy-duty pickups at its Flint Truck Assembly and at Pontiac Assembly Center, both in Michigan. Ford Motor Co. builds most of its heavy-duty pickup trucks at its Kentucky Truck Assembly in Louisville, and at Cuautitlan Assembly in Mexico. DaimlerChrysler AG `s Chrysler Group builds its big Ram trucks at its St. Louis North Assembly Plant in Fenton, Mo.

Those plants employ more than 15,000 U.S. workers and nearly 1,000 in Mexico.

Ford was the first to bring more power and towing and payload capacity to the light pickup truck, creating and now dominating this category that is sometimes referred to as "heavy-light," Robinet said.

The segment generally includes such vehicles such as the Ford F-250/350 Super Duty XL, the Dodge Ram 2500/3500 and GM's Chevrolet Silverado 1500HD and GMC Sierra 1500HD.

Ford has averaged about 50 percent market share of the heavy-duty segment for the past five years, said Doug Scott, Ford division truck-group marketing manager. The Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker sold 939,511 F-Series trucks last year, and about 40 percent of those were heavy-duty.

In the past, heavy-duty pickups have been aimed at commercial buyers, often small businesses and independent contractors such as plumbers, electricians and carpenters. But the big powerful vehicles have been attracting more mainstream buyers in recent years.

With prices on these heavy-duty pickups being relatively high _ the F-Series Super Duty series ranges in price from $23,375 to $39,580 _ they are also big profit centers for the U.S. automakers.

GM spokeswoman Sharon Basel said about 34 percent of the 975,090 pickup trucks GM sold last year were in the heavy-duty segment. And those sales, she added, were very profitable.

That's something Japanese competitors have surely noted and seen as a growth opportunity.

FULL Article Here: http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story....vvutY1ut1Lpvee

[Dumb_Ass_2003]

Originally Posted by Ming

The Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker sold 939,511 F-Series trucks last year, and about 40 percent of those were heavy-duty.

GM spokeswoman Sharon Basel said about 34 percent of the 975,090 pickup trucks GM sold last year were in the heavy-duty segment.

Couldn't help but point that out


I can't really picture a heavy-duty Toyota or Nissan truck. I'm sure they could steal half-ton sales, but heavy duty? First things they'll need is diesels, larger gas engines, and also more configurations. If their heavy-duty attemp is like the Titan with only one cab configuration, one engine, and one bed length then they're gonna have some problems.

[Rumblebuffin]

GM's Chevrolet Silverado 1500HD and GMC Sierra 1500HD

Umm...Silverado/Sierra 2500HD and 3500???

Though I despise the fact of imports getting into the HD game, I would like to see what they can do. I heard Toyota is thinking of an HD Tundra with 700 lb-ft. of torque.

IMO, Detroit has been making HD trucks for decades, so I'm sure they can show the imports who's the boss if they are ever attacked. But, Japan mainly, has been building big commercial trucks for a long time so I'm sure they can build an HD pickup of some sorts.

[GM_Fanatic]

It will take awhile to gain over buyers from such a loyal crowd but everyone knew it was coming, but this is only more incentive for Detroit to get back into the markets they have been ignoring.

[Swahili]

I don't like the sound of this at all. Doesn't spell good news for GM, Ford, or Dodge. It's really only a matter of time before they enter the game and then only time before they get good at it. This would be the wrong time or the Detroit to slack off in the HD pickup truck segment.

[Rumblebuffin]

If their heavy-duty attemp is like the Titan with only one cab configuration, one engine, and one bed length then they're gonna have some problems.

I agree with the fact that import pickups like the Titan do not offer a lot of options compared to US trucks.

I thought it would be interesting to see how options stack up. This is off the top of my head, so I may have made some mistakes:

Configurations for Silverado:

1500 2wd regular cab short bed sportside
1500 2wd/4wd regular cab short/long bed fleetside
1500 2wd extended cab short bed sportside
1500 2wd/4wd/Aws extended cab short/long bed fleetside
1500 Awd extended cab short bed fleetside
1500 2wd/4wd/Awd/Aws crewcab short bed
2500 2wd/4wd regular cab short/long bed
2500 2wd/4wd/Aws extended cab short/long bed
2500 2wd/4wd/Aws crewcab short bed
1500HD 2wd/4wd/Awd/Aws crewcab short bed
2500HD 2wd/4wd regular cab short/long bed
2500HD 2wd/4wd extended cab short/long bed
2500HD 2wd/4wd crewcab short/long bed
3500 SRW 2wd/4wd regular cab long bed
3500 SRW 2wd/4wd extended cab long bed
3500 SRW 2wd/4wd crewcab long bed
3500 DRW 2wd/4wd regular cab long bed
3500 DRW 2wd/4wd extended cab long bed
3500 DRW 2wd/4wd crewcab long bed

Take into consideration that each pickup configuration comes with at least two diff. engine choices, Auto/Manual Trans choices, at least two diff. trim levels, at most four, and many interior choices, gear ratios...Etc. If I'm correct, there has got to be over a hundred, two hundred, or even three hundred different major and minor choices for the Silverado. Ford and Dodge are about the same, probably with more trim levels. As for the current Titan:

2wd/4wd extended cab short bed
2wd/4wd crewcab short bed
umm...I'm sure there are some more variants...

It seems Nissan sells what normal people would buy, meaning people who need a good truck that has power, and room for many people and cargo. The Toyota Tundra has more options than the Titan. Most likely, nissan and Toyota may not have such options as Chevy when they DO make their own HDs, unless they do their homework very well.

This is just my opinion.

[DemonKnightDK]

Nissan is already claiming best in class, towing and torque for its Titan...

However, GM and Ford could easily make a HD setup with 800TQ from a turbo diesel.. super duty tranny, ect. They have the parts, and trucks are american if nothing else...

[Rumblebuffin]

However, GM and Ford could easily make a HD setup with 800TQ from a turbo diesel..

I've always wondered how high the big three will go with engine HP and TQ. Just a few years ago torque numbers were in the 400s, then the 500's, now they are in the 600s, and gaining. If I were searching for a 3500 Silverado in need of serious towing capabilities, I'm pretty sure 600lb ft. of torque is enough for me.

And, from what I'm hearing, torque numbers are continuing to grow. Jeez!!!

[Rumblebuffin]

Oh yeah, one more thing:

trucks are american if nothing else...

[Christos]

wow, can't even start a thread in this forum!

Anyone else find is sad that Toyota is in the top 6 posts in this forum? What about Ford, and it's F-series trucks? (F-series= best selling?) I'm a GM/Chevy fan, but this site...

Hmm...............

[ByTheLake]

Its basic Business 101 ... if some companies are reaping huge profits in a market segment, others will follow.

If anybody believes that this segment is safe from off-shore competition simply because it is a traditional American market, they'll be caught by surprise. Americans show little loyalty when it comes to they're own purchasing power ... they'll take the best product they can get for their dollar.

It's only a matter of time before other HD pickups enter the market. They'll slowly trickle in, barely noticeable. Then, 10 years down the road, you'll read how they have a double-digit piece of that segment, too.

There's nothing "American" about heavy duty trucks that the imports can't emulate or improve upon.

[geronimo66]

"They have the parts, and trucks are american if nothing else..." Who makes GM diesel motor again???

[TiburonJT]

Originally Posted by Dumb_Ass_2003

Couldn't help but point that out


I can't really picture a heavy-duty Toyota or Nissan truck. I'm sure they could steal half-ton sales, but heavy duty? First things they'll need is diesels, larger gas engines, and also more configurations. If their heavy-duty attemp is like the Titan with only one cab configuration, one engine, and one bed length then they're gonna have some problems.

The Silverado and Sierra sold 894,524 in 2004. The Sierra, Silverado and Avalanche sold 975,090.

[zeobandit]

I'll stick with my Chevy 2500HD thank you!

[MelvinJ]

Originally Posted by geronimo66

"They have the parts, and trucks are american if nothing else..." Who makes GM diesel motor again???

DMAX, Ltd., majority owned by General Motors.