http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/ Autoblog Comments for As yen sweetens, Toyota sales sour http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
It is really interesting to see how the microscope focuses on Toyota as the leader in global sales and how imperfect the seem to be. Toyota is obvisously a very well run company with great product and people but the scrutiny will only incease as they get bigger and more powerful.]]>Mar 20th 2008 4:27PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/Mar 20th 2008 4:39PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
GM is and has been #2 for a while now.]]>Mar 20th 2008 5:02PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/Mar 20th 2008 5:13PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
So the municpal government of Shangahi owns more than half of Wuling, completely seperate from GM China's 33% stake and Wulings' 15%.]]>Mar 20th 2008 5:29PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/Mar 20th 2008 6:21PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
Anyway, if they've controlling interest, you might want to reconsider if they can count them.]]>Mar 20th 2008 8:51PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
From my understanding Ford does not count Mazda in North American sales even with close to a 40% stake in company. My rationale is GM shouldn't count Wuling if they own 33% and another company owns just over 50%.

For those still in denial it is a moot point since Toyota will still likely pass GM in worldwide this year no matter how you fudge the numbers.

The bottom line is who cares if Toyota is the largest? Look what the largest automaker has done over the past few years, lose money hand over fist. Its about being profitable first and then building your volume because any one of the major automakers (Honda, GM, Ford, etc.) could be number one in sales if they sacrificed profit. Hell, GM has been doing for years now!

I am not a Toyota "fanboy" but I am a fan of their business model and implementation. It is really interesting to look at and see why Toyota is so successful. I do wish however people would be more objective when it comes to their cars (cough,Consumer Reports!) and praise for their cars because statistically their is almost no difference from Toyota to a Honda to a Ford anymore.]]>Mar 20th 2008 10:21PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
This is hardly a surprise to anyone who looked at the info objectively.]]>Mar 20th 2008 4:42PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/Mar 20th 2008 5:03PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/Boo freekin Hoo....

The only reason they're complaining about materials cost is because they lost some of that cost advantage they've grown accustomed too (now that the dollar has tanked).

Of course, these cost have been a thorn in the domestic's side for some time now. It's absolutely ridiculous how much these raw materials have jumped. Some of them over 200%.

Welcome to the real world Toyota! ]]>Mar 20th 2008 5:06PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/Mar 20th 2008 5:30PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
It's the death spiral that has the Japanese building cute personal service robots to help their aging population (since there are no young'ins to do the work) while we are building robots like the Big Dog.

http://www.bostondynamics.com/content/sec.php?section=BigDog

Who will of course one day be our masters.]]>Mar 20th 2008 6:23PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
There is life past the Toyota dealership people. I think Honda sales are way up last I heard.]]>Mar 20th 2008 5:35PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
Except, Honda is just as boring! The only true RWD honda has is the S2000!!!]]>Mar 20th 2008 6:30PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
You had me for a second. All the educated Americans on autoblog (i.e. not those dumb domestic fans) will tell you that all Toyota parts come from America. So there is no disadvantages to the weak dollar for Toyota. Just advantages. Tell GM to stop making their latest (hybrid) technology in Japan and assemble the parts there unlike Toyota who builds all their hybrid parts in America.
Synergy is our savior!

http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=3&docid=40761
]]>Mar 20th 2008 6:51PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
I always thought their manufacturing plants were a way around our tariffs and that most of the universal parts were still made in Japan.]]>Mar 20th 2008 7:02PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/01/level-field-institute-releases-report-on-domestic-content/]]>Mar 20th 2008 11:50PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
The current Japanese population situation is what happens when you make it SO expensive to live, that no one can afford to have kids. (Hmm. I believe Europe is quickly approaching this same issue, aren't they?)]]>Mar 20th 2008 7:21PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/Mar 20th 2008 7:28PM