Shoichiro Toyoda Lashes Out at Toyota Execs - TundraTalk.net

**Administrator** · 06-22-2009, 02:14 PM

One of the last things Shoichiro Toyoda did as honorary chairman at Toyota Motor Corp., was to assemble all of the company's executives and give them a tongue lashing. Toyoda even called out president Katsuaki Watanabe and blamed those in charge of the Japanese automaker for leaving behind the company's long-standing business practices to chase the quick-buck. He said they followed the lead of now-bankrupt automakers like GM and Chrysler, a path that has put the company in a serious financial bind.

While Toyota has posted significant profits for years, last year it posted a $4.5 billion loss and expects to lose even more ($5.7 billion) next year.

Toyota has always been known for building economical cars and for using a business practice called kaizen, where small improvements are constantly made to improve products. It is expected that Akio Toyoda (pictured above), the new Toyota president and grandson to the company’s founder, will once again begin to return the company to an economically-minded, slow growth corporation. Akio will officially take over the Toyota helm tomorrow.

Industry experts also believe that in order for Toyota to stay on top it must not only move away from luxury cars and large trucks, but it must also look outside the United States and develop vehicles for emerging markets.

More: Shoichiro Toyoda Lashes Out at Toyota Execs on AutoGuide.com

Slate CrewMax · 06-22-2009, 03:59 PM

So it sounds like our trucks are kind of a mistake? Maybe they won't even make the Tundra anymore....

**The Pudge** · 06-22-2009, 04:20 PM

settle down Shoichiro!!!

restosud · 06-22-2009, 05:47 PM

will any of this really trickle down to the buyer?remains to be seen!
toyota's assembly and warranty costs have gone up in the last decade or so just like the others and i'm sure the shareholders(if there are any) have something to say as well.
it's all about the $$$ in the end.

westdl · 06-23-2009, 12:00 PM

Here is a great article about the shake up.

Toyoda Asks How Many Times Toyota Errs Emulating GM Failures - Bloomberg.com

It seems like it is going to be a new day for Toyota. I'll bet we are going to see another product line begin at the San Antonio plant, which was intended to be Tundra only. If they continue to make the FJ, I suspect they will move its production there. I also suspect they may consider selling that empty engine plant in Mississippi or turn it into a car park for excess inventory during the next downturn. I hope I'm wrong, but I am certain the next down turn will begin somwhere between October 2009 and February 2010. If I am right about that downturn, then Akio Toyoda will begin laying off full-time workers during that downturn and we will probably see the end of the FJ for a while.

As US sales will increase slightly, it seems that Toyota sales in China will grow rapidly as they already have...at least until the Chinese steal Toyota's production secrets and build their own quality vehicles.

Now that I've scared myself with my economic predictions, can someone give me a hug?

nastyn8 · 06-23-2009, 12:16 PM

It not the Tundra in particular he was concerned with, it was loading everything up with every bell and whislte, driving the price up. Toyota lost having some really good entry level prices for people that don't want every bell and whistle.

TundraTommy · 06-23-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nastyn8

It not the Tundra in particular he was concerned with, it was loading everything up with every bell and whislte, driving the price up. Toyota lost having some really good entry level prices for people that don't want every bell and whistle.

Agreed. It will take a while for this upcoming change to trickle down to the consumer but I think it will be a good thing in the long run.

RIjon · 06-23-2009, 12:47 PM

Sounds like a good thing to me.

westdl · 06-23-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nastyn8

It not the Tundra in particular he was concerned with, it was loading everything up with every bell and whislte, driving the price up. Toyota lost having some really good entry level prices for people that don't want every bell and whistle.

You are mostly correct. He wasn't as concerned about Tundra. The important pieces involving the Tundra are as follows.
1. Toyota has only one dedicated plant, the San Antonio Tundra plant. All other plants build multiple platforms.
2. The San Antonio plant was designed to build 250,000 Tundras a year. All other facilities expand in 50,000 unit incriments.
3. Tundra production is now limited to 100,000 units a year. Leaving 150,000 unit capability unused. Shoichiro is upset about the wasted return on investment, and rightfully so.

I know Tundras are the second most popular truck in the Denver area as I see so many on a daily basis. FJ sales are expected to be slow, but I think I see more and more FJs all the time, although I do not have any official way of tracking that.

Jim Lentz currently has two plans for Toyota Motor Sales, one if the economy continues to pick up and one if it continues to slide. Both plans may get tossed by Yoshimi Inaba, President of Toyota North America as cost cutting measures tighten and Toyota may face its first real lay-off situation. They are not there yet, but I can point out that Obama and Congress have not actually addressed the real causes of the economic crisis.

Until Washington addresses the housing crisis at its roots, meaning the home owners and not the bankers, and jobs being shipped overseas at an ever increasing rate, then there will not be a recovery. The current increase in the DOW is only a bubble created by various influences on the market and will burst as quickly as it was created by Obama's "change" administration. Nothing has really changed.

Please forgive my negativity, but I call em like I see em.

Slate CrewMax · 06-23-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nastyn8

It not the Tundra in particular he was concerned with, it was loading everything up with every bell and whislte, driving the price up. Toyota lost having some really good entry level prices for people that don't want every bell and whistle.

I think the only options on my '84 Toyota truck were cloth seats, a chrome bumper and slider window. Nothing power, no cruise control or A/C, not even a radio.

oh2ball · 06-23-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TundraTommy

Agreed. It will take a while for this upcoming change to trickle down to the consumer but I think it will be a good thing in the long run.

I'd better hurry and get my Super charger while I still can!

hippo46 · 07-08-2009, 01:47 AM

Govt Motors wants you to believe their trucks are made in the USA. That is so far from the truth. Last year I bought a 1989 Toyota Odessey Motorhome model. The V6 needed an exhaust manifold and Toyota had one. The others would send you away they don't stock old model parts. I have lots of friends and family who drive Toyota's. When you drive the best why do you need the rest.

TundraTommy · 07-08-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oh2ball

I'd better hurry and get my Super charger while I still can!

Haha I wouldn't worry about people running out of superchargers. As long as the vehicle exists the aftermarket will as well.

Taylorman · 07-17-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slate CrewMax

I think the only options on my '84 Toyota truck were cloth seats, a chrome bumper and slider window. Nothing power, no cruise control or A/C, not even a radio.

I'd bet it didn't even have power steering. My dad had a Toyota when i was a kid and it didn't. I had a 1986, i think, and it did have power steer. I think my dads was a 87.

nastyn8 · 07-17-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylorman

I'd bet it didn't even have power steering. My dad had a Toyota when i was a kid and it didn't. I had a 1991, i think, and it did have power steer. I think my dads was a 93.

My 83 has power steering and had air, it's an SR5 with bucket seats