![Gran Turismo 5 demo coming to PSN on Dec 17, GT Academy returns [w/VIDEO]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/370z-gt-academy_143x85.jpg)
Toyota to develop a 3/4-ton pickup?
Foreign automakers have made attempts to infiltrate the compact and light-duty pickup truck markets, but those of us looking for 8-lug wheels and a 3000-lb payload (the "3/4-ton" name is a misnomer) were limited to the vehicles offered by the Big 3. Toyota might be looking to change that after they launch their all-new half-ton Tundra. Japanese truck makers have not had much success taking market share away from the domestics, but perhaps such a model could change things. Provide room in the wheelwells for 35s, and they'd have at least one convert. Some might say that Toyota lacks the experience to build such a vehicle, but that shows an ignorance of their Hino commercial-truck lineup, which builds the rather fierce-looking vehicle pictured to the right.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Larry 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
Toyota is fine and dandy but leave the Truck to us Americans. We need to support our own. What does america whant to close GM and Ford for good? Japan is going to take over all our jobs we had for many generations? WE have always supported Japanese cars that us americans have founted these compagnies in the first place. Butr they do not support our cars . We need to keep our truck domestic and leave there whannaby play truck for yuppies. A real American will buy American. Job well done and like a rock!!!
Reply
Patrick 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
Is that a serious comment?? Because if so, that just shows how ignorant you are. Japan isn't going to "take over" all of your jobs, they're providing more jobs for Americans as they continue to build more production plants in America.
Maybe if you learned some simple grammar and spelling, people could take your comments at least somewhat seriously.
Reply
Non-Bizarro Adam 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
Thanks Larry,
The next time that you want to support America, you might want to take a little more time to construct coherent sentences. I don't want to be one of those pricks who correct grammar in Internet posts, but it is really hard to take someone seriously when they come off as an uneducated redneck (this is coming from a self-confessed redneck, albeit a fairly educated one).
Back to the truck, I think this is nothing but good news for the American Truck industry. Anyone who has seen how much better trucks have gotten in the last 10 years will agree that the market has benefitted from increased competition. Do you think that the interiors of the new F-150 or 2006 Silverado would look as good as they do if the Tundra hadn't come along and risen the bar? While I still think that American trucks are all around better trucks than their Japanese counterparts, the Tundra and Titan are still damn nice trucks, and if their heavy duty versions are as good, it can mean nothing but improvements for all truck buyers.
Reply
William 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
I am opposed to protectionism for the reasons cited above: It weakens our ability to remain competitive in the world market. Look at the inferior products built by state-subsidized Fiat. Even the Italians won't buy them...
At the same time the Asian auto industry does not have a century worth of retirement and health benefits built into the cost of each vehicle they build. The US auto industry cannot hope to compete within this environment, and the only solution is to tarrif or limit imports to LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.
I am not fooled by Japanese assembly plants located in the US. The few thousand jobs created are a token donation to quiet the critics. Components are largely imported, meaning lost US jobs, and at the end of the day our dollars go overseas.
Today the focus is on Japan. Korea is now a worthy competitor in the entry-level market, and benefits from even cheaper labor than Japan. Wait until the Chinese begin importing cars. we have it good right now. These issues are not unique to the auto industry. Look at electronics. We invented most of the technology, and were leaders in the industry. Can you buy a US engineered-and-built TV today?
I am a believer in Industrial Darwinism: Survival of the Fittest Company. But the unfair advantage enjoyed by our competitors amounts to widescale slaughter of US industry as a whole.
Reply
Kevin 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
#3 gotten? i thought you were educated
Reply
Rollie 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
It would seem that most of us have an opinion of just what a "truck" should be. The actual use of the vehicle is really what matters. Seldom do I see a large GM, Ford, or Chrysler truck laden with a load for which the vehicle is rated. I say this as an owner of a 4x4 K3500 GMC powered by a 7.4 L engine. I use the truck on occasion to plow my driveway, and get hay for my horses. I would guess that 95% of the time, this truck is driven empty. Do I need this truck? No. I need a smaller vehicle intended for use as a driver. The forign and domestic market provide such vehicles. I was simply not smart enough to have bought one. The point---the market for large trucks is already to big because of people like me. We don't need more. I should have bought a trailer for my tractor, and did the heavy work with them. I could be getting 30 mpg, instead of 9.
Reply
Ferguson McSqueege 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
#5. Do you not believe in capitalizing the beginning of your sentences, and ending them with some sort of punctuation?
You don't seem to be very educated as well.
Reply
required 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
"gotten" is a perfectly cromulent word. By using it, #3 embiggened the entire thread.
Reply
Phil L. 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
A detour from the discussion's current line of thought...
The truck pictured with this entry is a competitor in the Dakar Rally, an amazing rally-raid event that features impressive stages across the Sahara. The next rally starts this coming New year's Eve in Lisbon, Portugal and ends in Dakar on January 15.
Sadly, US fans of the Dakar rally had only limited coverage of the last rally; it started after the rally was over (and was missing the fabulous voice of Toby Moody; somehow Speed lost the coverage rights to OLN).
Learn more at http://www.dakar.com
And now back to your regularly scheduled US vs. foreign automaker feud...
Reply
Non-Bizarro Adam 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
I did say fairly educated. I gots me a nice little piece of paper with shiny letters and everything that says I paid a bunch of money for my edumication. Next time I criticize someone for sounding like an idiot, I'll try to proof read my own sentences a little better.
Cheers.
Reply
dfn_doe 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
Misnomer?!?! 3/4 ton per axle would lead to a total of 3000lbs or is simple mathematics beyond the realm of AB editors?
Reply
Lee Gibson 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
THEY'RE GONNA TEK OUR JERBS!
Larry, it's time for you to get back in the pile.
Reply
md 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
Wow, and people call out GM for concentrating on trucks when Toyota is doing the same thing. I believe they should really get the Tundra up to scratch before trying to compete in the much smaller heavy duty pickup segment. They have yet to prove they are committed to building a full size pickups as well as the big three and even Nissan. Its is not as if they can't build good full size trucks, the land cruiser was a great truck in its prime, they just let them get old and dated.
Reply
BF 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
MD is right. Had this been GM, we would have all the haters out talking about how GM is out of touch with the market, and how GM doesn't get it when it come to fuel economy and how the mighty Toyota can do no wrong.
Looks like GM isn't the only one who sees a market in trucks.
I am fine with Toyota getting into the HD pick-ups. That said I would still buy a 2007 Silverado first.
Reply
Mike 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
#14 - I don't think you can compare Toyota and GM. Toyota is developing their heavy duty truck line while also leading the development of hybrid vehicles and producing a large variety of cars that get decent mileage already. GM, on the other hand, has been banking the company on their big SUVs and Pickups while allowing the emerging market for hybrids to completely pass them by.
GM is out of touch with parts of the market, Toyota is doing their best to cover all of it.
Reply
scooter 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
#12, Durka, Durka!
Reply
Finished.Law.School 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
I just wish that Toyota would hurry up and update the Sequioa so I can get one...
Reply
Ou 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
Your patriotic silverodo is made in Mexico and your ram is designed in Germany. While the Nissan Titan is designed, developed, and manufactured in the US. Hmmm... something to think about what's really domestic and what's foreign.
Reply
Ou 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
Your patriotic silverodo is made in Mexico and your ram is designed in Germany. While the Nissan Titan is designed, developed, and manufactured in the US. Hmmm... something to think about what's really domestic and what's foreign.
Reply
TexasTrucks 10:26PM (12/18/2005)
The new Toyota truck assembly plant is progressing along nicely here in San Antonio Texas to start production of 2007 models. A billion+ dollar investment is nothing to sneeze at. This plant is being built with U.S. labor and mainly U.S. materials and staffed with U.S. workers. The new true Full-Size V-8 half-ton truck they will build here will be 90+% US sourced parts according to Toyota. A second factory to be constructed will produce the aforementioned 3/4 ton trucks. A possible third plant will produce hybrids. Over $3 billion dollars of new investment in the US economy is bad for us how exactly? If your worried about them taking your job, come down here and apply. Someone will have to work there. What is the percentage of U.S. sourced parts in your Ford or Chevy? Many of the Ford Trucks around here are made in the Mexican plant, btw. Just a thought
Reply