One thinks of a classic cartoon when investigating the upcoming exploits of Toyota... "Whatcha wanna do tonight, Brain?" "The same thing we do every night, Pinky. Try to take over the world!"
Toyota has announced that it will produce a whopping 10 million vehicles by 2010. As part of the grand scheme, the automaker plans to build an additional 10 manufacturing plants to keep up with the projected three million additional cars Toyota must make to boost production to that point. Toyota currently produces 7.35 million vehicles annually.
Lucky recipients of the plants include Texas, China, India and France, among others to be announced. A jump to 10 million will put Toyota well past General Motors, which currently makes just above 9 million vehicles.
Narf!
[Source: Reuters]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
LaRone @ May 22nd 2006 4:05PM
Good for them. Unfortunately, they will inherit the problems with the media that GM has now. Environmental groups have already declared war on Toyota, and so has many Wall Street analysts.
More money. More problems
Honda is doing this the right way. They are controlling their growth and being extremely humble and cautious. Toyota…heh, well I wish I could day the same but I cannot. Their quality is starting to slip bit by fractional bit.
I just wish they would stop making appliances (their cars) and start making something fashionable and pretty.
Karl @ May 22nd 2006 4:23PM
I just wish they would stop making appliances (their cars) and start making something fashionable and pretty.
Utilitarian functionality with style: Mazda
Mike from Scarborough @ May 22nd 2006 5:13PM
Good for them...There must be more boring people all over the world than I thought..
Brad @ May 22nd 2006 5:39PM
Why is someone that likes things other than you like boring? You might be right, toyota is obviously building the wrong type of cars, since they can only seem to sell 7.3 million of them. I dont drive one, and dont think they are that exciting either, but it doesn't make me special or able to judge the people the do.
Razib Ahmed @ May 22nd 2006 5:55PM
Out of these 10 million cars by 2010, 900,000 will come from China. The Chinese growth is going to be spectecualar. Now Toyouta produces just over 300,000 cars in China. So, in 3 years the production is going to increase 3 times in China (http://asianbiz.blogspot.com/2006/05/toyota-taking-chinese-market-very.html).
Essence Awarder @ May 22nd 2006 5:55PM
Oh to you it's boring, to others it's not. Well, obviously maybe you're just the boring one since so many people think otherwise. At least they're making money, oh i meant record profits unlike the other prehistoric giant lol.
James @ May 22nd 2006 5:59PM
Good for them, that's how you run a business. Give the people what they want, and if they start to want more styling you give them that. Too bad GM can't understand this, but hey nobody gives a flying f8*** if they go down. It's just too damn bad if it happens.
Marvel CM @ May 22nd 2006 6:03PM
It's a global economy now, I feel the domestics will be left in the dust. They're just not global companies, in 5 yrs whatever market they gain outside of the U.S. will be nothing.
Whydrive @ May 22nd 2006 6:08PM
Yes the Toyota Camry is the coolest family sedan around. Anyone that buys an Accord over a Camry is an idiot because the Camry is so much cooler and drives so much better.
Re-bit @ May 22nd 2006 7:15PM
This is not happening just because Toyota is a good car and fine company, most of the blame falls in the american car industry because the have been building limons since the 80's. If you ask me I said unions are to blame.
PS. Honda is cooler than Toyota (even though I have an HiHy)
Lee Gibson @ May 22nd 2006 7:46PM
I don't think I've ever met anybody who thought Camrys were anything like exciting or interesting or fun to drive.
Reliable? Sure.
Good value? Probably.
Fun to drive? Define "fun".
Would I recommend one to my grandma? You bet.
Boring? Oh how very yes.
That's fine for some folks. Me? I'm looking for the total package. (Where'd that Supra go?)
Steve @ May 22nd 2006 8:51PM
In order to fuel growth Toyota will also need high-profit margin product lines.
Toyota should allow Lexus to compete head-to-head with germans in price so that it can become a truly global brand. With lexus selling million vehicles around the world and decreasing its dependence on only one or two markets, the future will be more secure. 9 million Toyota + 1 million Lexus is an achievable task,
The newly arriving LS is a ground breaking product and it must be priced HEAD-to-HEAD with Audi A8 and BMW 7 in the $69-70K price range, +$3-4K for LWB version.
Lexus should also significantly raise the bar on GS and get rid of ES which is a lousy product not fit for long term Lexus brand image.
Lexus should quickly move forward to bring new LX, GX and SC to compete with the germans and not make the
HORRIBLE mistakes acura and infiniti are making by imposing a glass ceiling of $50K on their product line and not offering powerful V8 and V12s and sexy styling.
SEXY STYLING: is what Lexus needs and must strive for.
Roland @ May 22nd 2006 8:59PM
well, I just bought a new toyota Corolla, and all I can say is
I HATE IT....
it is the most boring car on the planet, I guess next to the Camry it's pretty good. I know, it was definately my mistake but never again will I make the mistake. the only good thing going for it is gas mileage but not worth it since it is too boring. I learned my lesson.
Mark @ May 22nd 2006 10:50PM
1994 Corolla, 130k miles no problems, change oil, add not much gas (thank God at $3.15/gallon here, first hurricane will make it $4 plus). Boring? Hell yes. I'll have to try the excitement of owning a Saab like my co-worker. The excitement of asking my buddies for a ride while my exciting car is in the shop (usually once every 2 months or so).
dave @ May 22nd 2006 11:32PM
toyota's quest to become the largest auto maker in the world has come at a price. quality. more and more we are seeing more and more toyota's coming in for repairs. especially the camry. seems that they are great until the warranty expires, then, bring them to us repair facilities, at 70 bucks per hour and the highest mark up on parts. what i don't get is now we are seeing less gm cars. i bought a ridgeline, and wish i did'nt. dash rattles like a popcorn popper. just maybe i'll give avalanche a try.
Joe Klein @ May 22nd 2006 11:49PM
Roland, you are a freaking IDIOT. lol
Knightz @ May 22nd 2006 11:54PM
#15, and what were you going to buy a Ford Ranger. Deal with it, Toyota is a global company and there is no stopping them. No company can be perfect, recalls are going to happen. But who gives the customer the best product will win.
Elio @ May 22nd 2006 11:57PM
Hey I have the new Camry and it's a great car. Great styling, the interior blows away the competitions and it gets great mileage. I can see why toyota is taking over the world.
Stone Floyd @ May 23rd 2006 2:11AM
It's great that the faker behemoth is exposed for what they are.
This giant auto company is the only one in the world that does not make a
profit and who is the largest, what a sorry laughing stock of a
company. Toyota deserves to hold that title not this joke company and hopefully real soon.
richard hatori @ May 23rd 2006 3:59AM
I hope Toyota plans to revise the " Supra" Its too bad GM doesn't get it.By the time they do it will be too late for them ( if it isn't already ) They now make disposible cars that last 3 years before you start replacing ball joints,rod ends,calipers etc. If you need an interior lamp forget it you have to replace the
whole unit