Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Toyota
Game on: Truck incentives set to soar
The slumping housing market and gas prices have hurt truck sales, so automakers are going to have to step up on givebacks to keep metal moving. Toyota has taken the first shot with thier five month old Tundra, with 0% financing and buckets of cash. Edmunds tallied final Tundra incentives at $5,083 per unit last month, which is second to only the much older Dodge Ram. The new Silverado, which currently carries only $1,500 to $2,000 on the hood, is set for a bump in incentives to help level the playing field vs. the fierce competition, and older offerings from Ford and Dodge will have to follow suit. With Toyota's deep pockets, there may be no end to how far the folks from Aichi will go to reach their stated sales goal of 200,000 units in 2007, so $5,000 may just be the beginning.
If you've been waiting on your truck purchase, we have a feeling your patience is about to be rewarded. Everybody's pickup offerings are stronger than they've ever been, and with more competition comes more money in your pocket.
[Source: Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Tim 1:46PM (7/05/2007)
Wait a few more months the deals will get sweeter. Heck wait til next year they'll be giving them away.
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John 4:07PM (7/05/2007)
Have you driven a Ford F-150 lately? I hope not. There are 6.2 million of these on the road.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB0araA0T_k
FermitTheKrog 8:28PM (7/06/2007)
John : So a video of a crash test of the old model F150 is supposed to stop me from wanting to buy the new one? Nice FUD troll.
Tyk 1:47PM (7/05/2007)
What out Big 2.8... Toyota is freakin' playing for keeps. They view the Tundra launch as importantly as the Lexus launch.. they will not stop until they carve out a significant portion of the full size truck market.
Their technique is the same as when they launched Lexus; take a cash hit on launch to get the product out the door and into peoples' hands. Then, refine, refine, refine, until no end.
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l.i.dave 2:11PM (7/05/2007)
Don't you mean watch out stupid?
The tundra is a turd, it is already riddled with recalls and it will never pass muster with middle America.
The F-150 seems to win every competition it enters.
Albert 3:11PM (7/05/2007)
You bigots talk even though you dont know jack about the Tundra. You have never driven one yet you sooo know its better than your POS Ford.
Anyways, last month I traded my Ram and bought a Double CAB long bed Tundra with the 4.7 engine. I am very happy with it. The power is comparable to my old Hemi and with much better MPG to boot.
And unlike your Ford that nobody wants used, my Toyta will be clamoured over at trade in time.
Steve B. 4:01PM (7/05/2007)
l.i.dave:
Who cares about Middle America as far as marketing and product planning goes? It is backwater, which basically follows the trends set 20 years before on the coasts.
Don 3:53PM (7/05/2007)
I'm not sure what being a bigot has to do with supporting your own country's automotive industry.
Screw Toyota.
Barney 5:38PM (7/05/2007)
"l.i.dave @ Jul 5th 2007 2:11PM
Don't you mean watch out stupid?
The tundra is a turd,"
Look who's talking! Ford,Gm and Dodge all had their turns and will be whistling Dixie when people like you will be the only ones buying them. Their recalls are still fresh in mind. Actually it's the lack of recalls that will keep them in peoples minds. The three have too often disregarded their troublesome trucks and will be paying for it now. people will sooner take a chance on a new Toyota truck then to rehash their experiences with the other three.
bathtub gin 9:49PM (7/05/2007)
Steve B: 'Who cares about Middle America as far as marketing and product planning goes? It is backwater, which basically follows the trends set 20 years before on the coasts.'
Hey, genius, who do you think is buying the trucks?
Middle America.
FermitTheKrog 8:38PM (7/06/2007)
Albert : If you think your tundra is going to be worth something used, you are in for a hell of a surprise. 0% financing combined with rebates totally destroys any kind of resale value on any vehicle, Toyota or not. Do not compare this to a Camry or other high resale Toyota, it's just not the same.
AMGoff 1:52PM (7/05/2007)
Toyota should stick with what gave them their deep pockets - boring little cars that get good gas mileage.
Let the big boys build the trucks.
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Barney 5:43PM (7/05/2007)
"Let the big boys build the trucks"
The BIG BOYS are shrinking and crying the blues about it. The big boys are having trouble enough selling what they have. The big boys got to big for their shoes.
AMGoff 10:31AM (7/06/2007)
"The big boys are having trouble selling what they have..'
Cars maybe, not trucks there poncho. Tell me again what are the best selling vehicles in America and the second best in the world... Oh yeah, the F-Series!
I don't car what any of you say, this is one market that is quintessentially American and that the Japanese will never get quite right.
How come when Toyota gives huge incentives they are being "aggressive," yet when the General tries to match incentives they are "desperate." You guys give me a headache.
whofan 1:59PM (7/05/2007)
Hopefully them cam shafts keep breaking!
The domestic companies don`t have the money for this madness.
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Barney 5:54PM (7/05/2007)
Obviously they didn't have the money to fix the trucks they sold when those trucks had problems. Ford never did do anything about my water logged V6 and the neighbour never did get his rattling GM V8 replaced. Dodge had no choice but to replace a friends Cumins diesel. He only made it 100 Kms from the showroom floor.
Aki 2:01PM (7/05/2007)
The newest Tundra is no Silverado-killer by any means. But you also know Toyota has their sights dead-set on taking over this segment, and so they'll do whatever they can to grab market share. Regardless it's a good time for truck shoppers. I'm guessing by summer's end w/ even higher gas prices that people can get some good deals, esp. from Toyota and their obsession to hit that 200k sales goal.
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Simon Loo 2:31PM (7/05/2007)
Autoblog must be full of Dearborn rednecks whose only luck is waiting for the Japanese big trucks to fail which they know deep down Toyota will get right too sooner rather than later.
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l.i.dave 2:35PM (7/05/2007)
Don;t forget to mention the insecure Japanese guys who come on to defend their inferior products.
Bias much sugar?
Jack 2:40PM (7/05/2007)
Yes, their inferior products are selling more than your Dearborn cars. Make sense much honey?