Topic: Toyota / Lexus Tidbits

[safristi]

Is the ABOVE a "SNOPIAN" LEGEND or the GAWDS HONEST TRUTH.........or did the Japanese have better PUBLIC RELATIONS help....I'm VERY KLEMPT!!! discuss amongst yerselves....

[sirAQUAMAN64]

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/19/553-000-tundra-and-sequoia-models-recalled-for-suspension-fix/

Toyota recalls Tundra, Sequoia for suspension fix

Mark Rechtin  |   |  Automotive News / January 19, 2007 - 1:00 am

 
LOS ANGELES -- For the second time in less than two years, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. has launched a massive voluntary recall campaign involving the front suspension of its full-sized pickup and SUV models.

In cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Toyota is recalling 553,000 Tundra pickups and Sequoia SUVs from the 2004-2007 model years to inspect and possibly replace ball-joint assemblies. The recall does not affect the redesigned 2007 Tundra that started production in November.

"There is a possibility that the front suspension lower ball joint may experience excessive wear and looseness, causing increased steering effort, reduced vehicle self-centering, and noise in the front suspension," Toyota said in a release.

Tundra and Sequoia owners have complained that the bad ball joints have made their vehicles lose control, roll over and even collapse onto their wheels.

In May 2005, Toyota recalled more than 750,000 Tacomas, 4Runners, Tundras and Sequoias from the 2001-2004 model years because of similar ball joint problems. Despite years of consumer complaints, Toyota claimed there was no safety defect.

At the time of the first recall, Toyota acknowledged that the ball joint surfaces may have been scratched during assembly. Toyota did not give a reason for the failures in the recent-era Tundras and Sequoias.

Toyota will notify Tundra and Sequoia owners of the recall in February. Replacement of the left and right front suspension lower ball joint will be done at no charge.

[UmroAyyar]

http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php/topic,50559.0.html

I guess I posted in the wrong place.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php/topic,50559.0.html

I guess I posted in the wrong place.

No, no, you're fine. Didn't see your post, but the title in its own thread is better to draw attn and for people to search who may own one looking for info.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Toyota, VW square off in poster duel

Pia Krix  |   |  Automobilwoche / January 29, 2007 - 3:11 pm

Munich. Toyota will launch on Feb. 23 the most widespread poster campaign ever seen in Germany to introduce the new Auris hatchback, which replaces the Corolla hatchback.

According to reports, the automaker has leased every poster surface in every city in Germany that has a population of 100,000 or more. The trade association for outdoor advertising said that means Toyota has bought nearly 200,000 surfaces in 82 cities.

Based on the price for various poster formats, Automobilwoche calculates that the placements will cost Toyota about 27.6 million euros, or about $35.6 million, for a standard 10-day contract, not counting any discounts.

Volkswagen tried to mount a similarly ambitious poster campaign for the Golf, which will rival the Auris, but came up short. VW filled about 90,000 large surfaces with seven motifs during the second half of January to mark the milestone of 25 million Golf sales since its debut. Advertising industry sources put the cost of the campaign at 12 million euros, or $15.5 million.

[UmroAyyar]

Toyota workers in Kentucky plant made more than UAW members last year

Last year was the first time that non-unionized workers at a foreign-owned assembly plant made more than members of the United Auto Workers union make on average in a year. The Detroit Free Press reveals in a very interesting article that Toyota paid out bonuses of $6,000 to $8,000 last year at its largest U.S. plant in Georgetown, KY. Combined with the base pay made by a non-union worker at the plant, that equates to $30/hour or $60,000/year based on a 2,000-hour work year. That is more than the $27/hour or $54,000 a UAW member made on average last year. Union workers, or course, hardly received any profit sharing bonuses last year due to the poor overall performance of the domestic automakers.

This isn't actually surprising, as a matter of fact it was bound to happen. In many instances, Toyota and other large foreign automakers operating assembly plants in the U.S. pay their workers near-UAW wages in an effort to dissuade them from unionizing. In a year when Toyota's sales have grown to record levels and the domestics are losing market share fast, it was inevitable that Toyota's big bonuses would put the pay of its assembly workers in the U.S. ahead of the UAW, which saw no bonuses last year and likely won't for a few. The lack of overtime hours was another hit to the UAW that dropped the pay for many of its members. In time, as the domestics (if the domestics?) recover and the big bonus checks are in the mail again, we expect the UAW's pay to again top that of any non-union assembly workers in the U.S.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/31/toyota-workers-in-us-made-more-than-uaw-members-for-first-time-l/

[ArticSteve]

The also give away 15 cars a year to plant workers: Camry, Solara Convert, Avalon, plus cash prises for innovation ideas.  On site pharmacy and day car.

[safristi]

"DAY CAR"......they feed and coddle my lil dahlin'................well stroke me wif a feather.....

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Toyota quietly puts first incentives on Prius

Richard Truett  |   |  Automotive News / February 5, 2007 - 1:00 am
 
Amid all the recent talk in Washington about raising fuel economy standards, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. was quietly trying to work off a backlog of unsold Prius hybrids by offering the first incentives on the fuel-saving hatchback.

Seven of Toyota's 12 U.S. sales regions were offering a low lease payment, cut-rate finance deals or cash to the dealer for each unit sold. In California, Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong said the incentives were to help ensure that Toyota meets its sales target for the Prius.

The company wants to sell 150,000 units in the United States this year.

Deals included a $249 monthly lease contract in New York state. Prius customers in Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky could finance a Prius through Toyota for as little as 3.9 percent for 36 months.

Kwong said Prius sales have remained steady, despite large fluctuations in gasoline prices. Toyota sold 106,971 Prius models in 2006, down from 107,897 sold in 2005, according to the Automotive News Data Center.

The incentives were scheduled to end Wednesday, Jan 31.

[Allen]

Toyota has record high quarterly profit
YURI KAGEYAMA

Associated Press

TOKYO — Toyota, hot on the heels of General Motors to become the world's No. 1 auto maker, reported a 7.3 per cent jump in quarterly profit Tuesday on booming sales in North America and Europe that offset sluggish demand in Japan.

Toyota Motor Corp. recorded group net profit of 426.8 billion yen ($3.6-billion U.S.) in the three months ended Dec. 31, up from 397.6 billion yen the same period the previous year.

Quarterly sales climbed a solid 15.2 per cent to 6.15 trillion yen from 5.33 trillion yen a year ago, as the remodelled RAV 4 sport utility vehicle and Camry mid-sized sedan sold briskly in North America, and demand was strong for the Yaris compact in Europe, Toyota said in a release.

“Toyota's numbers are super, super strong,” said Koji Endo, auto analyst with Credit Suisse First Boston Securities in Tokyo. “To be honest, it's hard to find anything bad at this point.”

Toyota did not comment on where it might build its next U.S. factory to keep up with strong demand. American newspapers have reported that Chattanooga, Tenn., and Marion, Ark., are among the finalists.

Profit and sales reached a record for any quarter, said Senior Managing Director Takeshi Suzuki. “We believe our company wide efforts have contributed to these results,” he said in a release.

Toyota, with its reputation for reliable, fuel-efficient cars, has gotten a big boost lately from the rise in oil prices. It also is a leader in producing hybrids, which use electricity and gasoline.

Toyota has long beaten struggling General Motors Corp. in profitability, but it still trails GM in annual global vehicle production.

Last month, Toyota said global vehicle production topped 9 million in 2006, at 9.018 million vehicles, marking the fifth year straight of growth. GM its group auto makers produced 9.18 million vehicles worldwide in 2006 — about 162,000 vehicles more than its Japanese rival.

Toyota, which also makes the Lexus luxury line, surpassed DaimlerChrysler AG as the No. 3 auto seller in the U.S. for the first time in 2006, according to data from auto makers. Ford Motor Co. remains No. 2 in the U.S.

Toyota kept its vehicle sales forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31 unchanged at 8.47 million vehicles. During the October-December quarter, it sold 2.16 million vehicles worldwide, up 8.9 per cent from a year ago.

Vehicle production, meanwhile, rose 9 per cent to 2.09 million units in the quarter.

Toyota said a weak yen, which boosts the value of overseas earnings, added 30 billion yen to the third quarter, while cost reductions efforts contributed another 20 billion yen.

It also held steady its forecasts for the full fiscal year through March, projecting earnings of 1.55 trillion yen on 23.2 trillion yen sales.

Toyota shares, which have climbed a third in value over the past year, closed up 1.8 per cent in Tokyo at 7,960 yen.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I thought the Matrix was a pretty good name. Always thought of the movie too (techy, young, cool).

Matrix's successor will have a Mazda3 feel

Mark Rechtin  |   |  Automotive News / February 12, 2007 - 1:00 am
 
LOS ANGELES -- Toyota will replace the Matrix in spring 2008 with a sleek hatchback inspired by the brisk-selling Mazda3.

Toyota insiders say the Mazda3 -- the hip cool car in the compact class -- is the visual benchmark for the Matrix successor, which is expected to be called the Blade.

The Corolla-based hatchback will get a narrower greenhouse and thicker C-pillar than the Matrix has.

The vehicle already is sold in Europe as the Auris and in Japan as the Blade.

But the U.S. version will have its own sheet metal, including a different belt line.

Toyota registered the Blade name with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The Japan-market Blade is powered by a 158-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 161 pounds-feet of torque.

That would be a step up from the Matrix's 1.8-liter engine's 126 hp and 122 pounds-feet of torque.

[UmroAyyar]

Toyota to build new plant in U.S.

  Feb 27, 2007 10:24 AM
EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
Associated Press

TUPELO, Miss. — Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday it will build a $1.3 billion (U.S.) assembly plant in northeast Mississippi to manufacture its Highlander sport utility vehicle.

Production is set to begin by 2010 and employment is projected at 2,000. The company said it expects to build 150,000 vehicles a year.

The plant will be built on a 1,700 acre site at Blue Springs, land that has been promoted for economic development.

Mississippi was chosen in a competition with Tennessee and Arkansas.

The plant will be the second automaker to locate in the state. Nissan Motor Corp. opened its assembly plant north of Jackson in 2003. The 4,000-employee plant produced about 278,000 vehicles last year.

Gov. Haley Barbour and two Toyota manufacturing executive vice-presidents, Gary Convis and Ray Tanguay, announced the project in an auditorium at Tupelo High School.

“Toyota is the world’s premiere auto manufacturer and our state will be the best partner the company has,” Barbour said in prepared remarks.

Tanguay said several factors led to the decision to build in Mississippi over the other proposed sites.

“On my visit to northern Mississippi, I have talked with area companies and observed their work force,” Tanguay said in prepared remarks. “What I observed were people who are educated, ethical and friendly with a strong work ethic — a perfect match for the Toyota way.’’

Lawmakers told the Associated Press that Barbour will call a special legislative session for Friday to address an incentive plan for Toyota.

The site is about 10 miles northwest of Tupelo.


http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/186117

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Toyota just keeps on growing. I know they're at capacity, but I start to get the feeling they're almost getting too many plants. I guess not, but just what runs thru my head.

[safristi]

Tupelo...how long before the KING CAB Elvis Edition........Uh Huh Uh Huh.... . Wise men say ONLY fools rush in.............without Mega local TAX BREAKS...don't step on my money stuffed blue suede shoes baybee...............

[initial_D]

Saf, you follow me or me follow you? Who is on first?  I know Miss Jessica is on ... second ... make that bouncey duexy. 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Booming Lexus ponders new niches
2 crossovers, hybrid could join lineup

Mark Rechtin  |  Automotive News / March 5, 2007 - 1:00 am
 
PHOENIX -- High-flying Lexus is studying a plan to slot new vehicles in several key niches, which would fortify an already fast-growing lineup.

America's best-selling luxury brand is conducting market research on:


A seven-passenger crossover larger than the RX 330.


A compact crossover smaller than the RX 330.


A Lexus hybrid with a unique body style.


The fact that Lexus admits to "studying" these segments is a strong indication that it plans to produce the vehicles.

"Lexus does not intend to stop growing," said Bob Carter, the division's general manager. "We have not reached our limit."

The seven-passenger crossover, which probably would be the first of the three to appear, would be similar to the LF-X concept that has been around since 2003. Lexus won't talk timing, but it could debut in the spring of 2008 using the rear-drive Lexus GS platform -- and might even appear sooner.

The LF-X concept rides on a 116.5-inch wheelbase and is 194.3 inches long, bigger than Lexus' GX 470 SUV. Sources say the new vehicle would not replace the body-on-frame GX in Lexus' lineup.

The compact crossover under study would compete with the BMW X3 and Acura RDX.

The Lexus hybrid being considered would not be a hybrid version of an existing model. It would have its own body style, like Toyota's Prius sedan.

 
The three models are on top of several vehicles already expected to be added, say Lexus insiders.

Those include coupe and convertible versions of the IS 250/350, likely to arrive in 2008 or 2009. In addition, Lexus probably will announce plans to build the LF-A concept supercar at the Tokyo auto show in October.

Also, Lexus will launch the F line of high-performance cars. The IS-F arrives in December. Insiders say a GS-F version of the GS sedans also is likely.

Not all products being studied are sure to be approved. Those that do get the green light may not appear in all markets, Lexus executives said here at the press introduction of the Lexus LS 600hL hybrid sedan.

For instance, the compact crossover might be a good fit for Europe but could be too downscale for the Lexus brand in America, Carter said.

"The compact-premium market has really taken off in Europe, but it hasn't yet in the U.S.," Carter said.

"We could test the waters. But it doesn't mean you are going to see us going downmarket. Going under our current (price) floor is not a good strategy."

On the other hand, a production version of the LF-X would be a good fit for the United States but not for many other markets, said Keith St. Clair, corporate manager of Lexus global strategy.

"We don't force new segments," St. Clair said.

Lexus is on a roll. Sales grew 24.1 percent from 2003 to 2006, to 322,434 units.

Carter says the luxury market has a "tail wind" that will push luxury-vehicle sales from 1.9 million units now to about 2.4 million by early in the next decade. But he wouldn't say how far and how fast he expects Lexus to grow.

[Snowman]

A $40k Cute Ute from Lexus? The X3 and RDX are done.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Toyota nears decision on 2nd Mexico plant

Stephen Downer  |  Automotive News / March 8, 2007 - 3:49 pm
 
MEXICO CITY -- Toyota is within a year of deciding whether to build a second assembly plant in Mexico, says a high-level source at Toyota Motors Sales de Mexico, the automaker's unit here.

"A decision will be made within 12 months," the source told Automotive News in an interview. If approved, the plant would be running by 2012, he said.

Toyota's plans for the plant are no secret, but the time frame and the regions being considered are emerging.

The source said Toyota is considering building the plant on undeveloped land in either central or northern Mexico. "One thing that is sure," he said, "is that it will not be built in Tijuana," where Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California opened in 2004.

The Tijuana operation assembles Tacoma pickups for the United States and Mexico, as well as Tacoma truck beds. Truck assembly capacity, which started with 30,000 vehicles a year, will rise to 50,000 this year.

Toyota probably would assemble the Yaris car at the new plant. The version sold in Mexico comes from Japan. The Yaris also is assembled in France.

"The Yaris is one of the cars we would like to produce in Mexico," the source said.

Toyota's new-car sales in Mexico rose to 60,088 in 2006 from 35,318 in 2005, a 70 percent increase. Toyota launched its sales operation in Mexico in 2002, when it reported 3,826 vehicles sold.

This month, Toyota will introduce the Tundra pickup, assembled in San Antonio, to Mexico. Toyota says 40 percent of the Tundra's components are made in Mexico.

All Mexican auto assembly plants are in the central, western or northern parts of the country.

Aguascalientes -- in central Mexico 310 miles northwest of Mexico City, Mexico's largest market -- would be a strong candidate for Toyota's second plant.

Nissan Mexicana has a large assembly plant in the city. Toyota could supply all major Mexican markets from that location.

[UmroAyyar]

Toyota CEO confirms lithium batteries for next-gen Prius

Toyota CEO Katsuaki Watanabe spoke to BusinessWeek recently and confirmed that the next-generation Prius will definitely have a lithium ion battery when it comes out later in 2008. Watanabe also said that Toyota was focusing on improving both the performance and efficiency of their third-generation hybrid system. The target is to cut both the size and the cost of the next-generation hybrid system by half.

Watanabe acknowledged that they had concerns with the durability and robustness of lithium ion batteries in automotive applications, due to the extreme conditions they must endure in automotive applications compared to consumer electronics. They are actively testing and developing the batteries to be able to work reliably in cars. In addition to the batteries, Toyota is also cutting the size of the motors and inverters in half compared to the current cars. If they can accomplish all of those goals they will be able to incorporate hybrid drive-trains in to more of their vehicles and widen their lead further. The only thing that wasn't mentioned was the plug-in possibility, so we'll have to wait longer to find out if that is included.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/03/10/toyota-ceo-confirms-lithium-batteries-for-next-gen-prius/

[sirAQUAMAN64]

New Prius already eh? Thing still looks futuristic to me.

______________________________


Toyota says Tupelo's steep price is the new reality

Lindsay Chappell  |  Automotive News / March 12, 2007 - 2:00 pm
 
Is Toyota Motor Corp. spending too much to build its next American auto plant? The Japanese automaker with the reputation for cost efficiency says no.

On Feb. 27, Toyota said it will spend $1.3 billion to construct the new factory near Tupelo, Miss. The plant will yield 150,000 Highlander SUVs annually when it is up and running.

But the price tag is far higher than some other recent auto plant projects.

Just 10 months ago, Honda Motor Co. broke ground on an assembly plant in Greensburg, Ind., that will produce 200,000 cars a year. Honda's price tag: $550 million, less than half the expected cost of Toyota's Tupelo plant.

Five years ago, competitor Nissan North America Inc. began constructing a factory of its own in Mississippi for $1.4 billion. But that completed plant is capable of producing 400,000 vehicles a year, nearly three times as many as Toyota's project.

Toyota officials say they are at the mercy of rising prices for steel, concrete and other building materials.

"A lot of it stems from material costs," said Ray Tanguay, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc., who is directing a North American competitive-assessment study for Toyota. "Steel costs have gone up phenomenally."

According to the American Metal Market information service, the indexed price of a ton of steel is $275 this month, about 12 percent higher than one year ago. The average price fluctuates from month to month but has generally been about twice what it was in 2003.

Toyota also blamed rising material prices for much of the cost overruns at its newest factory in San Antonio, which it opened last November. The project, pegged to cost $850 million, ended up costing $1.28 billion.

That plant will yield 200,000 Tundra pickups a year.

Part of the company's surprise in San Antonio was the unforeseen economic impact of Hurricane Katrina, which hit the Gulf region in the middle of the project. Katrina swamped the normal supply-and-demand balance for contractors around the South, driving up competition for building materials and contractor labor.

Now two years after Katrina, Tanguay said, auto plant construction has not gotten any cheaper.