Friday May 25, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Toyota says No. 1 spot not top priority

Business Jan. 20, 2012 - 06:40PM JST ( 13 )

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13 Comments

-2

some14someJan. 20, 2012 - 04:40PM JST

Seems the grapes have really gone sour for TOYOTA who once dreamt of selling ten million cars !
-3

ExportExpertJan. 20, 2012 - 04:51PM JST

I would say their focus is in the right place make good cars the rest will take care of its self.

People will tire of having to fix their american rubbish and wake up.
-1

mikemiroJan. 20, 2012 - 05:10PM JST

Having worked at GM in Canada in the past, I know that Toyota's comment that being no. 1 "is not the most important thing" for them is absolute rubbish. No one wants to be in second or (in their case) third place. The issue is that US automakers have begun to catch up in terms of quality & value for money - Japanese still make better cars, but their service & customer response levels have fallen behind those of US/EU manufacturers. Like the electronics industry, the Japanese no longer have the labor resources nor the innovative capacity to compete with foreign manufacturers. And now that Chinese & Indian manufacturers have entered the same markets, we'll continue to see Japanese automakers lose market share.
3

cactusJackJan. 20, 2012 - 05:44PM JST

When you are at the top, there is only one way to go.
-2

suzukakidJan. 20, 2012 - 07:18PM JST

Sounds like something a loser would say.
-8

sswayJan. 20, 2012 - 07:57PM JST

Top priority should be moving all parts manufacturing offshore so that Toyota can sell radioactive contamination free cars if they want to continue to stay in business.
0

bello420Jan. 20, 2012 - 08:16PM JST

I have owned Toyotas for the last 15 years... I've never owned American because their cars are badly designed and the ones I driven , Lincoln, Cadillac, left much to be desired in the terms of driving pleasure. ... push rods and gas guzzlers. Really!!
-1

herefornowJan. 20, 2012 - 10:08PM JST

Toyota is just a microcosm of Japan and Japan Inc. By that I mean that due to unending nationalistic pressures and policies, it concentrated much too high a percentage of its production in Japan to create jobs. And with the Tohoku disaster and now the yen trading at recent highs, it is finding that a very tough position to compete globally from. Also, it is now facing increased competition from revitalized American car companies, and aggressive ones from Korea like Hyundai and Kia -- which Toyota does not really have to worry about in its protected home market. It was also slow to enter China. The Japan Inc. model is woefully deficient in preparing companies to compete globally long term, and Toyota is just the biggest example of that.
0

globalwatcherJan. 20, 2012 - 10:28PM JST

Toyota, do not worry about it. Quality, Innovation and Safety are your job #1,
-1

malfupeteJan. 20, 2012 - 11:33PM JST

I think american car manufacturers are starting to catch on to the smaller car with better gas mileage yet still looking stylish and fun to drive.. altough I probably would never buy one but the Cruze and to an extent the Ford Focus are decent smaller cars
1

Jared NormanJan. 21, 2012 - 03:54AM JST

I have a Japanese motorcycle 2001 Honda F4i, after 40,000 miles still have yet to have a problem with it. But i have a german car, the mini couper, i bought it for the interchangeable bike surfboard rack. its awesome for hawaii.
0

sfjp330Jan. 21, 2012 - 05:08AM JST

mikemiroJan. 20, 2012 - 05:10PM JST Having worked at GM in Canada in the past, I know that Toyota's comment that being no. 1 "is not the most important thing" for them is absolute rubbish. No one wants to be in second or (in their case) third place. The issue is that US automakers have begun to catch up in terms of quality & value for money - Japanese still make better cars, but their service & customer response levels have fallen behind those of US/EU manufacturers.

It's not that Toyota is comfortable being number two. They prefer to be number one. The problem is that Toyota wants to avoid repeat of bogus "sudden acceleration #2" inquiry from the U.S. goverment. This has nothing to do with Toyota making better cars for not. It's more political.
0

NetNinjaJan. 21, 2012 - 08:01AM JST

Two things are true here. The No. 1 spot is not the top priority - TRUE They work for profit only. Everything else in the backseat if it can fit.

Nobody shoots for 2nd place - TRUE. You can't tell me your goal is NOT to be nobody and it's not important to you. Everybody wants a gold medal when they go to the Olympics.