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Howes: Toyota not looking so shiny now
November 26, 2009
Howes: Toyota not looking so shiny now DANIEL HOWES Is the Toyota Motor Corp. juggernaut losing its conqueror-of-the-world mojo? Because if it was a Detroit automaker that was recalling 4.26 million vehicles to repair accelerator problems, or if it was a Detroit automaker that had broken its historic no-plant-closings pledge, or if it was a Detroit automaker that had recalled more vehicles (2.38 million) in 2005 than it sold in the United States that year (2.26 million), the answer would be an emphatic yes. The answer also would be yes if Toyota, an earnings powerhouse, suddenly stopped minting cash -- notwithstanding the three-month period ended Sept. 30 -- and was on track to lose billions more this year. The answer would be yes if its exponential market share gains suddenly slowed, or if its national rival, Honda Motor Co., kept delivering profits despite a global auto recession and its new South Korean rival, Hyundai-Kia, continued to grab precious U.S. market share. News flash: The men running Toyota appear to be mortal. They overreach and make mistakes. Their vehicles are not flawless. Their engineers cut corners, at least in ways that garner the attention of the National Highway Traffic Administration. Their Camry no longer is the undisputed king of midsize cars, now that rivals Ford Motor Co. and even General Motors Co. are proving they can produce world-class metal, too. This isn't new, either, suggesting that Toyota's troubles may be more of a developing pattern than a one-time aberration. Two years ago, before two-thirds of Detroit's automakers were tempered by the fires of bankruptcy, the editor of the ostensibly "Japanese-loving" Consumer Reports apologized to readers for recommending the problem-plagued Camry V-6. He also said the magazine had decided new Toyota models could no longer be given the benefit of the doubt -- or its prized "recommended" label. And Toyota's V-8 powered Tundra four-wheel drive pickup was labeled "unreliable" by the magazine, the unofficial Bible to discerning car and truck buyers. Two years before that, the global industry's gold standard for quality recalled more vehicles in the United States than it sold in the United States. There have been running customer complaints about sludge in its engines, and, more recently, growing federal skepticism over Toyota's response to the unintended acceleration probe. 'Grasping for salvation' Infallible they aren't, as CEO Akio Toyoda, a scion of the founding family, conceded last month. Toyota, he said, is nearing "capitulation to irrelevance or death" and is "grasping for salvation." He also said the still cash-rich automaker has grown too arrogant on "the hubris born of success" and the "undisciplined pursuit of more." Even adjusting for the Japanese cultural proclivity for excessive apology freighted with humility, those are stunning statements coming from a Toyota CEO. Considering that his name, save one letter, is on the proverbial building, the admissions are even more revealing. Which means what, exactly? That the Great Recession, the accelerant that pushed GM and Chrysler Group LLC into bankruptcy and fueled Ford's evident resurgence, also is rebalancing the automotive landscape in ways that seemed impossible just a few years ago. Fresh from federally induced bankruptcy, GM's labor costs are competitive; its product portfolio is solid; its footprint in developing markets is impressive; and its debt load is enviably small, making it a potentially formidable competitor able to generate cash once the worst of the auto sales depression passes. Ford arguably is building its best vehicles in a generation, if not a whole lot longer. The Blue Oval is booking monthly gains in its share of the U.S. market, an accomplishment seemingly reserved exclusively for Toyota not too long ago. And Toyota's position as the undisputed quality leader and industry juggernaut clearly is in jeopardy. That's change you can believe in. Daniel Howes' column runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays Copyright 2009 The Detroit News. All rights reserved. http://detnews.com/article/20091126/OPINION03/911260331 |
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Howes: Toyota not looking so shiny now
> This isn't new, either, suggesting that Toyota's troubles may be more > of a developing pattern than a one-time aberration. Two years ago, > before two-thirds of Detroit's automakers were tempered by the fires > of bankruptcy, the editor of the ostensibly "Japanese-loving" Consumer > Reports apologized to readers for recommending the problem-plagued > Camry V-6. > > He also said the magazine had decided new Toyota models could no > longer be given the benefit of the doubt -- or its prized > "recommended" label. And Toyota's V-8 powered Tundra four-wheel drive > pickup was labeled "unreliable" by the magazine, the unofficial Bible > to discerning car and truck buyers. > > I always take everything Consumer Reports says with a grain of salt. |
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Howes: Toyota not looking so shiny now
On Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:12:33 -0800, john wrote:
> > November 26, 2009 > Howes: Toyota not looking so shiny now DANIEL HOWES > > Is the Toyota Motor Corp. juggernaut losing its conqueror-of-the-world > mojo? > > Because if it was a Detroit automaker that was recalling 4.26 million > vehicles to repair accelerator problems, or if it was a Detroit automaker > that had broken its historic no-plant-closings pledge, or if it was a > Detroit automaker that had recalled more vehicles (2.38 million) in 2005 > than it sold in the United States that year (2.26 million), the answer > would be an emphatic yes. But we're not dealing with a North American manufacturer that would correct this mistake, and then make another in next year's model. We're dealing with a Japanese company where heads will roll for 'losing face'. And that is now, again, family run. A member of the Toyoda family has already stepped in and replaced the President of Toyota Motor, who was asked to step down due to Toyota's recent quality problems, and has probably already committed Hari Kari. If we were talking about General Motors, yeah, I could see the speculation in the article taking place. But we're talking about a Japanese company that is now interested in 'saving face', regaining their reputation, and will work hard to do so. General Motors appeased their shareholders by selling the cheapest product they could get away with for the highest price they could charge, and it ran them into bankruptcy. Do not expect the same from Toyota. They make the shareholders happy by making the *Customers* happy and wanting to buy their cars. You really don't know a whole lot about this, so please stop posting your Bull**** in the Toyota group. Thanks. |
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Howes: Toyota not looking so shiny now
In article >, phaeton > wrote:
> >> This isn't new, either, suggesting that Toyota's troubles may be more >> of a developing pattern than a one-time aberration. Two years ago, >> before two-thirds of Detroit's automakers were tempered by the fires >> of bankruptcy, the editor of the ostensibly "Japanese-loving" Consumer >> Reports apologized to readers for recommending the problem-plagued >> Camry V-6. >> >> He also said the magazine had decided new Toyota models could no >> longer be given the benefit of the doubt -- or its prized >> "recommended" label. And Toyota's V-8 powered Tundra four-wheel drive >> pickup was labeled "unreliable" by the magazine, the unofficial Bible >> to discerning car and truck buyers. >> >> > >I always take everything Consumer Reports says with a grain of salt. yeah, a 50 mile square grain. |
#5
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Howes: Toyota not looking so shiny now
On Nov 26, 12:12*pm, john > wrote:
> November 26, 2009 > Howes: Toyota not looking so shiny now > DANIEL HOWES > > Is the Toyota Motor Corp. juggernaut losing its conqueror-of-the-world > mojo? > > Because if it was a Detroit automaker that was recalling 4.26 million > vehicles to repair accelerator problems, or if it was a Detroit > automaker that had broken its historic no-plant-closings pledge, or if > it was a Detroit automaker that had recalled more vehicles (2.38 > million) in 2005 than it sold in the United States that year (2.26 > million), the answer would be an emphatic yes. > > The answer also would be yes if Toyota, an earnings powerhouse, > suddenly stopped minting cash -- notwithstanding the three-month > period ended Sept. 30 -- and was on track to lose billions more this > year. The answer would be yes if its exponential market share gains > suddenly slowed, or if its national rival, Honda Motor Co., kept > delivering profits despite a global auto recession and its new South > Korean rival, Hyundai-Kia, continued to grab precious U.S. market > share. > > News flash: The men running Toyota appear to be mortal. They overreach > and make mistakes. Their vehicles are not flawless. Their engineers > cut corners, at least in ways that garner the attention of the > National Highway Traffic Administration. Their Camry no longer is the > undisputed king of midsize cars, now that rivals Ford Motor Co. and > even General Motors Co. are proving they can produce world-class > metal, too. > > This isn't new, either, suggesting that Toyota's troubles may be more > of a developing pattern than a one-time aberration. Two years ago, > before two-thirds of Detroit's automakers were tempered by the fires > of bankruptcy, the editor of the ostensibly "Japanese-loving" Consumer > Reports apologized to readers for recommending the problem-plagued > Camry V-6. > > He also said the magazine had decided new Toyota models could no > longer be given the benefit of the doubt -- or its prized > "recommended" label. And Toyota's V-8 powered Tundra four-wheel drive > pickup was labeled "unreliable" by the magazine, the unofficial Bible > to discerning car and truck buyers. > > Two years before that, the global industry's gold standard for quality > recalled more vehicles in the United States than it sold in the United > States. There have been running customer complaints about sludge in > its engines, and, more recently, growing federal skepticism over > Toyota's response to the unintended acceleration probe. > > 'Grasping for salvation' > > Infallible they aren't, as CEO Akio Toyoda, a scion of the founding > family, conceded last month. Toyota, he said, is nearing "capitulation > to irrelevance or death" and is "grasping for salvation." He also said > the still cash-rich automaker has grown too arrogant on "the hubris > born of success" and the "undisciplined pursuit of more." > > Even adjusting for the Japanese cultural proclivity for excessive > apology freighted with humility, those are stunning statements coming > from a Toyota CEO. Considering that his name, save one letter, is on > the proverbial building, the admissions are even more revealing. > > Which means what, exactly? > > That the Great Recession, the accelerant that pushed GM and Chrysler > Group LLC into bankruptcy and fueled Ford's evident resurgence, also > is rebalancing the automotive landscape in ways that seemed impossible > just a few years ago. > > Fresh from federally induced bankruptcy, GM's labor costs are > competitive; its product portfolio is solid; its footprint in > developing markets is impressive; and its debt load is enviably small, > making it a potentially formidable competitor able to generate cash > once the worst of the auto sales depression passes. > > Ford arguably is building its best vehicles in a generation, if not a > whole lot longer. The Blue Oval is booking monthly gains in its share > of the U.S. market, an accomplishment seemingly reserved exclusively > for Toyota not too long ago. > > And Toyota's position as the undisputed quality leader and industry > juggernaut clearly is in jeopardy. That's change you can believe in. > > Daniel Howes' column runs > Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays > > Copyright 2009 The Detroit News. All rights reserved. > > http://detnews.com/article/20091126/OPINION03/911260331 I think toyota's biggest mistake is letting americans go anywhere near where they build and design cars. American workers screwed up american cars and, for that matter, America. I don't have any employees for a reason. My business would be dead in 18 months. I could hire several people and expand my business exponetially if I wanted. I just have no desire to do so in this cesspool. Hopefully toyota will go back to building everything off shore. My J vin camry won't die in spite of the abuse I put it though. |
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Howes: Toyota not looking so shiny now
Wasn't he a sports announcer?
"Elmo P. Shagnasty" > wrote in message ... > In article >, > Hachiroku ÉnÉ`ÉçÉN > wrote: > >> A member of the Toyoda family >> has already stepped in and replaced the President of Toyota Motor, who >> was >> asked to step down due to Toyota's recent quality problems, and has >> probably already committed Hari Kari. > > He's dead. > > Maybe you mean harakiri? |
#7
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Howes: Toyota not looking so shiny now
On Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:05:20 -0500, Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> In article >, > Hachiroku ÃnÃ`ÃçÃN > wrote: > >> A member of the Toyoda family >> has already stepped in and replaced the President of Toyota Motor, who >> was asked to step down due to Toyota's recent quality problems, and has >> probably already committed Hari Kari. > > He's dead. > > Maybe you mean harakiri? ha⋅ra-ki⋅ri /ˈhɑrəˈkɪəri, ˈhærə-, ˈhæri-/ [hahr-uh-keer-ee, har-uh-, har-ee-] –noun 1. Also called seppuku. ceremonial suicide by ripping open the abdomen with a dagger or knife: formerly practiced in Japan by members of the warrior class when disgraced or sentenced to death. 2. suicide or any suicidal action; a self-destructive act: political hara-kiri. Also, hari kari. |
#8
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Howes: Toyota not looking so shiny now
On Nov 26, 5:25*pm, Hachiroku ハチ*ク > wrote:
> On Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:05:20 -0500, Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote: > > In article >, > > *Hachiroku ÉnÉ`ÉçÉN > wrote: > > >> A member of the Toyoda family > >> has already stepped in and replaced the President of Toyota Motor, who > >> was asked to step down due to Toyota's recent quality problems, and has > >> probably already committed Hari Kari. > > > He's dead. > > > Maybe you mean harakiri? > > ha⋅ra-ki⋅ri > /ˈhɑrəˈkɪəri, ˈhærə-, ˈhæri-/ *[hahr-uh-keer-ee, har-uh-, > har-ee-] –noun > 1. * * *Also called seppuku. ceremonial suicide by ripping open the abdomen > with a dagger or knife: formerly practiced in Japan by members of the > warrior class when disgraced or sentenced to death. 2. *suicide or any > suicidal action; a self-destructive act: political hara-kiri. > > Also, hari kari. Seppuku Chicken is one of my fave dishes. |
#9
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Howes: Toyota not looking so shiny now
In article >, "Elmo P. Shagnasty" > wrote:
>In article >, > Hachiroku ÉnÉ`ÉçÉN > wrote: > >> A member of the Toyoda family >> has already stepped in and replaced the President of Toyota Motor, who was >> asked to step down due to Toyota's recent quality problems, and has >> probably already committed Hari Kari. > >He's dead. > >Maybe you mean harakiri? seppeku is the correct name. the other is stupid slang. |
#10
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Howes: Toyota not looking so shiny now
On Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:32:16 -0800, phaeton wrote:
> On Nov 26, 5:25*pm, Hachiroku ハチ*ク > wrote: >> On Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:05:20 -0500, Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote: >> > In article >, *Hachiroku >> > ÉnÉ`ÉçÉN > wrote: >> >> >> A member of the Toyoda family >> >> has already stepped in and replaced the President of Toyota Motor, >> >> who was asked to step down due to Toyota's recent quality problems, >> >> and has probably already committed Hari Kari. >> >> > He's dead. >> >> > Maybe you mean harakiri? >> >> ha⋅ra-ki⋅ri >> /ˈhɑrəˈkɪəri, ˈhærə-, ˈhæri-/ *[hahr-uh-keer-ee, >> har-uh-, har-ee-] –noun >> 1. * * *Also called seppuku. ceremonial suicide by ripping open the >> abdomen with a dagger or knife: formerly practiced in Japan by members >> of the warrior class when disgraced or sentenced to death. 2. *suicide >> or any suicidal action; a self-destructive act: political hara-kiri. >> >> Also, hari kari. > > Seppuku Chicken is one of my fave dishes. Chicken guts?!?!?! |
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