Japanese automakers fuelling record profits with new models
According to a Reuters report,
Japan's five major automakers are set to post record profits as they prepare to close out their 2005/2006 fiscal year.
While the depressed value of the yen has played a role in boosting profits for Japanese companies, there remains a
strong link between new product launches and automaker profits, with Nissan posting the weakest Q4 results among
Japanese automakers, with no new models in the all-important U.S. market.The report forecasts continued growth for Toyota, Nissan and Honda for at least two years, with the biggest gains in the U.S. Key products in the Japanese new model pipeline:
- Toyota's new Camry, America's best-selling car has just launched, and its new Tundra pickup is due in early 2007 .
- Honda will launch three new crossovers (the CRV and Acura's RDX and MDX) this year.
- Nissan has fresh versions of the Sentra and Altima sedans, along with the Versa and Infiniti's G35
Expect political pressure on the Japanese government to raise the value of the yen, but don't look for that to have a big impact on sales of their cars Stateside as long as Toyota et al can continue to surf a wave of successful product launches.
[Source: Reuters]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
roger 4:38PM (4/22/2006)
Toyota reports earning in early may.
I wonder how much they are gonna make....(my assumption is, a lot)
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Stoneman 7:03PM (4/22/2006)
I have a confession to make. I test drove the 2007 Camry (V6) and I loved it. If you check my review out, it goes on and on about the lovely V6 which puts out 268 bhp. I had mistakenly thought it was a 2006 model, which I was wrong. I have since corrected it. But at any rate, this car is really classy, except for the wood. Toyota must get rid of that stuff. However, it's nowhere near as horrible as the Kia Amanti.
Stoneman
http://www.stonemanautoreview.com
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bud dailey 9:41PM (4/22/2006)
The CEOs and their yes men in the American auto industry should be exiled to Lower Slobovia. Those idiots got nothing right.
Don't they study history,or even read a newspaper?
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Brian W 10:29PM (4/22/2006)
Whether your U.S. or foreign, the market is all about Product, Product, Product.
Everyone is excited about Toyota's and Nissans V-6, but like all mid size sedans, V-6s only make up about 15% and will get worse.
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Jason Boston 7:59PM (4/24/2006)
...and another car they're loving is the new Buick Lucerne...over at NYTimes Auto Reviews. It's a good time to be buying big cars :
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/automobiles/autospecial/23AUTO.html?ex=1303444800&en=eb0a81552c6b6580&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss
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K. Francis 7:49AM (4/25/2006)
I test drove the new Camry 2007, found it nice, high quality and everything else in a similar way to many other models from other auto makers, but not outstanding. The quality gab between cars in any said segment became very marginal, therefore, it is a case of subjective opinion not real fact when it comes to which is better in any segment. The Fusion, Impala, Accord and others are as good as Camry in terms of quality and performance, and could be better in terms of style; actually I have friends who bought Fusions after they test drove the Camry and felt the Ford was better built. One thing I do not like about the Camry is the strong resemblance to Mazda. I find the fact that Toyota copies the style of the others for Toyota and Lexus cars lacking ethics and is selfish. Style design is very costly, and it seems to me that Toyota steals designs and saves the money to reflect into its huge profits, while other manufacturers pay for their designs and made look more expensive.
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