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Toyota enjoys FORTUNE's admiration as first non-American company

Toyota enjoys FORTUNE's admiration as first non-American company

Posted Feb 23rd 2006 1:30PM

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Fortune magazine has ranked Toyota Motor Company as number nine in its Top 10 most admired companies. Toyota's selection marks the first non-Ameican company that has made the list (that is, of course, if you count DaimlerChrysler as American, which you shouldn't). The panel rated 303 companies on a scale of 1 to 10 in various categories, 1 being the best and 10 being the worst. Toyota's worst score was a 2, while GM and Ford ranked near 10 in the financial stability corner. The top five contenders in the automotive category were Toyota , BMW, Honda, Nissan, and DaimlerChrysler.

Category: Trends

Tags: toyota

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Glenn A.

Hi Lithous. Ask the ghost of Preston Tucker what happened when he tried to "build a better mousetrap" and compete against GM. Or, the ghost of Henry J. Kaiser. Or his son, Edgar Kaiser. Or Joseph Washington Frazer (descended from THE Virginia Washington family) who also tried to build cars afer WWII with Henry J. Kaiser.

Hey, I'd love to build a hybrid with microturbine which could run on whatever liquid fuel was cheapest at the neighborhood fuel station - diesel, biodiesel, peanut oil, unleaded, E85, E10, kerosene, whatever. I'd love to have all wheel drive and in-wheel electric motors. I think it might be a just a TAD beyond my financial means to try to develop a cool, competitive car to be built in America, and automotive distribution system, since I unfortunately don't have a spare, cool $50 BILLION laying around, Lithous.

You could also try asking the ghost of John Z. Delorean, too. Or wouldn't he "count" since his gullwing cars were built in the Republic of Ireland?

At least Malcolm Bricklin is still alive (and soon to start imports of Chinese made Chery cars - probably with a different badge/brand since GM are freaked out that "Chery" might be confused with "Chevy"). You could ask him about his attempt at building cars, or doesn't he count, since though he was an American businesman, his gullwing cars were thrown together in Canada?

As for the 38 special revolver I was periodically issued to guard empty fields while B-52's filled with nukes circled over the north pole during alerts? It was totally worn out and more a danger to myself or anyone at the shooting range, than to anyone I might have to shoot at. It spit lead between the cylinder and barrel, it was so friggin' wore out. If I'd have made a decent living wage, I'd have bought a damn gun to use myself. But then, President Carter WAS unfortunately the guy in charge.

Oh yeah, I recall the heat being turned off in the office buildings too - like in, NO heat, because the US Government couldn't afford oil on their military budget because the Arabs turned the screws - yet again. At least the barracks and chow hall were heated. Thankfully, during that time, I was stationed in an area where winter meant 40 degrees instead of 10 below.

So do you now understand the concept of others making sacrifices, even to giving up their lives, so that we Americans can all have the freedom to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - which includes buying what we choose as long as it's legal, maybe, Lithous? I'm just curious.

February 24 2006 at 9:49 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Glenn A.

Yes, well, I just drove to work in 1 degree F. this morning, so I actually wanted to get here safely instead of waiting on AAA like I used to have to do with my so-called American made cars (some of which were made in Mexico, anyway). I don't want to die standing alongside the road, thanks, Lithous. Though in these temps, I "only" got 42.5 mpg, wheras in the summer I get 50 and in the 20's (F.) I get about 44-45 mpg - and carpool with my wife every day. We're using up about 1/4 the fuel we used to because we obviously bought the Prius and now carpool using it. Thanks for caring.

Besides which, I was in the US Military where I defended your right to free speech to unfairly call people Onanists because you disagree with them, and to express your opinion and insult those of us who practice the American way by buying what we consider the best product that is legally available. Lithous, I bet you'd have been one of these guys who used to spit at me while I was in uniform in the late 1970's, literally putting my life on the line so your type could spit goobers at me and dirty my dress uniform.

February 24 2006 at 8:26 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Lithous

It would be pretty bad if Toyota could have $11 billion or more PROFIT and be a shister of a company to work for, wouldn't you think? HP Consulting even leases a car for every HP Consulting employee: again, that is how it works when the money is there.

Once the big 2 are gone and there are no quotas and no import tax to protect non-existent U.S. car companies then we'll ask the same workers (unemployed because their jobs will be gone) how they like their jobs.

But Klaatu you did your part by buying one of those Prius cars assembled outside of America. You're a great Michigander.

February 23 2006 at 6:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Josh

"Wow. I'm disappointed. Where are all the Toyota bashers? Lithous, did your mom call you away from the computer?"

If you read the GM job banks thread, you'll see that it was actually his father who called him over for his daily dick feeding

February 23 2006 at 5:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bryan

Excellent, Bonita,...you may want to add under the "or" category:

"Cry to gov't for 'fairness'"

Well, guess, what, there is no fairness. You have to rise above and beyond that by building SUPERB product. Instead, I see last-ditch efforts to badge-engineer a Pontiac, etc. It really is disgraceful to watch all this unfold, because it didn't have to be this way.

All I wanted was a Pepsi.

http://www.song-teksten.com/song_lyrics/suicidal_tendencies/suicides_an_alternative/institutionalized/

February 23 2006 at 4:21 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Clyde Batter

Hmmm . . . build a quality automobile and:
- watch your company grow
- look at profit in the Billions of dollars
- continue to build new plants
- constantly be in "hiring" mode
- be the envy of all your competition

or,

build crappy products and:
- watch your company disintegrate
- look at losses in the billions of dollars
- shut down plants
- force permanent layoffs
- read your own "death watch" data and be the laughing stock of the industry

Hey, Bill, are you listening?