Autoblog

Toyota passes BMW as most valuable car brand

Seyth Miersma — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: BMW, Toyota, Earnings/Financials

An annual market study of the strongest brands across various industries has seen Toyota leapfrog BMW as the world's most valuable automotive brand. Toyota's 2013 brand value rose to $24.5 billion, up 12 percent versus 2012 numbers according to market research company Millward Brown's BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands list. BMW's value fell slightly; down by 2 percent to a total of $24 billion.

Mercedes-Benz finished in third place in the automotive category, up 11 percent from 2012 for a valuation of $18 billion. Honda ($12.4 billion, down 2 percent) and Nissan ($10.2 billion, up 3 percent) rounded out the top five for the category. Volkswagen was the only other auto brand that finished in the top 100 overall, in 100th place. Audi made the greatest percentage gain over 2012, up 18 percent to $5.5 billion, but finished outside of the top 100.

Technology companies dominated the overall list, with Apple, Google and IBM ranking one through three. Couture brand Prada was 2013's biggest gainer, rising by 63 percent over 2012.

Toyota passes BMW as most valuable car brand originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 May 2013 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan's Ghosn urges Japan's new PM to stabilize yen, patch things up with China

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:32:00 EST

Filed under: China, Etc., Government/Legal, Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Nissan, Earnings/Financials

Shinzo Abe was sworn in as Japan's new prime minister - its seventh in six years - barely a week ago. To count him as the seventh PM is a bit disingenuous, in fact, since he was the prime minister in 2006 and 2007 but had to retire due to medical issues. His return came after a campaign that stressed repairing the nation's economic issues - a platform that should give you an idea of the issues Japan has had at the top step of its government. Chief among the nation's woes? An economy still suffering from two decades of deflation and, more recently, a yen that is gaining so bullishly that it's tearing up the china shop.

Yet even before he took office, Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn had a message for prime minister Abe: "Please bring [the yen] back to the neutral territory so that we can do our job without a handicap." By "neutral," Ghosn was referring to an exchange rate of one dollar to 100 yen, by "our job" he meant Nissan's ability to build cars for export on the island nation even though Bloomberg posits that it already produces 75 percent of its units outside of Japan.

Above that neutral territory, production in Japan begins to get massively more expensive with every incremental rise in the yen; right now the 100 yen is about $1.15 - and that's after a ten-percent drop over the course of 2012 - and Bloomberg calculates that every single-digit increase in the yen's value against the dollar robs Nissan of $232 million in yearly operating profit. Just down the coast in Toyota City it's even worse - Bloomberg figures each single-digit increase in the yen costs Toyota $402 million every year.

Nissan is one among all the Japanese makers monitoring tensions in China, too. A territorial dispute last year caused Chinese buyers to shun Japanese cars to such an extent that overall car sales fell in China and Japanese automakers cut production and sales forecasts in the world's largest auto market. Ghosn was less pointed in his comments on the matter, saying only that if the antagonism keeps up then "obviously we will have to reflect it in our long-term plans." It was Akio Toyoda's comments, however, that were probably a good reflection of the private wishes of the new prime minister: "I want it to be a peaceful year where nothing goes wrong."

Nissan's Ghosn urges Japan's new PM to stabilize yen, patch things up with China originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Toyota unstoppable?

Paul Eisenstein — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Toyota

Big T Is Back Despite Recalls, Earthquakes And Politics

Can anything slow Toyota down? Only a couple of years ago, the Japanese giant seemed as vulnerable as a sumo wrestler with vertigo as it struggled to explain away a series of safety and quality snafus that forced it to recall an unprecedented 14 million vehicles worldwide. Then, just it was getting back on its feet, the maker was body-slammed by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that all but shut down the Japanese auto industry, leaving the industry giant struggling under severe inventory shortages for the rest of the year.

Only a couple of years ago, the Japanese giant seemed as vulnerable as a sumo wrestler with vertigo.

Yet, just like that sumo wrestler, Toyota has repeatedly shaken off the hardest hits. Despite somewhat mixed reviews, its Camry has continued to dominate the midsize passenger car segment - helping Toyota drive sales gains that have, in recent months, run triple the pace of the overall US automotive recovery.

In fact, Toyota's loyalty rate is once again setting the industry benchmark, according to a new study by Experian Automotive, something that suggests the recent sales surge is more than just pent-up demand as buyers catch up after the shortages of 2011.

So, what to make of the unexpected move by Standard & Poors, the influential financial ratings agency, which this month downgraded the maker's stock from a "Hold" to "Buy" rating? Now, to be sure, this was no panic move. S&P didn't tell investors to dump Toyota and race somewhere else with their money. No one is expecting the sort of financial collapse that accompanied the descent into bankruptcy at General Motors and Chrysler during the latter half of the past decade. But for those who thought Toyota was, indeed invulnerable, the downgrade may be hard to reconcile.

Paul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading Is Toyota unstoppable?

Is Toyota unstoppable? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW and Toyota to partner on sports car and EV tech

Jeff Sabatini — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 09:48:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Technology, BMW, Toyota, Electric

If you are any other carmaker, this is really not what you want to hear on a Friday morning: The industry's 800-pound gorilla and one of its most profitable brands are joining forces. If you are an enthusiast (or environmentalist), however, the would-be products of this collaboration may have you cheering like a Miami Heat fan.

While details are admittedly scarce, the notion of BMW and Toyota throwing in on a sports car has us tickled, especially considering how well the Japanese giant's liaison with Subaru to produce the BRZ and Scion FR-S has turned out. The other aspects of this just-announced BMW-Toyota agreement - a fuel cell system, powertrain electrification and lightweighting technology - make the project sound even more like the stuff of dreams. The expansive partnership builds on a deal between the two automakers brokered in March to collaborate on next-generation lithium-ion batteries.

Count us among those waiting with bated breath to see whether they come true.

For more details, scroll down to read BMW's official press release.

Continue reading BMW and Toyota to partner on sports car and EV tech

BMW and Toyota to partner on sports car and EV tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda drive the new NASCAR Camry

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 28 May 2012 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Toyota, Racing

When Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda wanted to give his company's 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Camry a shakedown run, Kyle Busch was chosen to ride shotgun. Even though Busch has won 85 races driving Toyotas in three NASCAR series, it was Toyoda who took the driver's seat for a spin around Daytona International Speedway.

The redesigned Camry stocker is expected to be submitted for approval this summer, and you can watch Akio Toyoda put it through its paces in the video below.

Continue reading Watch Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda drive the new NASCAR Camry

Watch Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda drive the new NASCAR Camry originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 May 2012 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota CEO lists favorite cars from other automakers

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota

During a meeting of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Toyota president Akio Toyoda offered a "Chapeau!" to his fellow CEOs by listing his favorite cars from other makers. He listed just one vehicle from five makers represented on the board, in alphabetical order: the Honda NSX, Isuzu Bellett, Mazda Cosmo, Mitsubishi Pajero (our Montero) and Nissan Skyline.

Toyoda didn't give his reasons for choosing these car beyond each being "memorable." Even so, going through the list any car enthusiast knows the Honda (Acura in the States) NSX needs no introduction nor explanation. The Mitsubishi Pajero is probably as well known for it's off-road excellence as it is for its name change in Spanish-speaking lands due to the word "pajero" - all the more intriguing when it's apparently named after an Argentine cat, Leopardus pajeros. And although the "Skyline" moniker was made famous overseas by the GT-R, the Nissan Skyline that Toyoda references has a long history and is our Infiniti G.

The Mazda Cosmo (pictured) was an Italian-esque little coupe produced from 1967 to 1995, the first series production vehicle with a two-rotor rotary engine. The Isuzu Bellett was that firm's in-house replacement for the English Hillmans it was rebranding, the first Japanese car to get GT badging (it would also get a GT-R version), and it would cover just about every segment with sedan, coupe, station wagon and pickup truck variants.

Toyota CEO lists favorite cars from other automakers originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 May 2012 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota retools development process with goal of creating more exciting cars

Zach Bowman — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota, Design/Style

These days, most Toyota models are about as likely to get your pulse up as the latest hardware from Frigidaire. But it wasn't always so. There was a time when Toyota counted itself among the world's sports car manufacturers with vehicles like the Supra, Celica All Trac and MR-2. Those two-doors helped forge generations of enthusiasts before the company shuttered its go-fast ambitions, a door that is only now starting to open again thanks to the new GT 86/Scion FR-S codeveloped with Subaru. Now, according to Automotive News, the company has unveiled a new development and manufacturing framework designed to aid in producing more exciting vehicles. According to CEO Akio Toyoda, the revamped system will allow the company to design multiple models at the same time to reduce costs.

It will also cut the number of executives tied to the design review process to streamline decisionmaking. The company says that with too many people involved, vehicles have been built by "eliminating negatives" instead of focusing on their strengths. Added cooperation between the automaker's planning and design units may foster more innovative styling, including models with lower centers of gravity and better aerodynamics. Think NS4 Plug-In Concept.

The Toyota New Global Architecture will first be applied to front-wheel drive models.

Toyota retools development process with goal of creating more exciting cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin, Toyota CEOs swap race cars at Nürburgring

Noah Joseph — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Aston Martin, Toyota

The chief executives of any two companies will inherently have something in common to share. All the more so for the CEOs of automakers, never mind how big or how small. But Akio Toyoda and Ulrich Bez share more than job descriptions. The heads of Toyota and Aston Martin also share a passion for motorsports and actively race themselves.

It's a relationship helped broker the deal to turn the Toyota iQ into the Aston Martin Cygnet. It's one that has seen not only their teams but they themselves compete against each other in sports car racing. It's also one that only stands to intensify next season in endurance racing when both field LMP1 racers. But before that happens, the two pencil-pushers turned hot shoes swapped cars at the Nürburgring, Toyoda taking to the wheel of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato, and Bez piloting the Lexus LFA. Follow the jump to watch the video footage.

Continue reading Aston Martin, Toyota CEOs swap race cars at Nürburgring

Aston Martin, Toyota CEOs swap race cars at Nürburgring originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota NA chairman Inaba calls Hyundai Sonata "honorable contender"

Chris Shunk — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Toyota

When does a mid-size sedan become a top-notch competitor to the Toyota Camry? The answer is apparently whenever said competitor begins stealing market share from America's top-selling sedan.

Bloomberg reports that Toyota North America Chairman Yoshimi Inaba called the Hyundai Sonata "a very honorable contender in the market" during an interview earlier this week. Inaba adds that Toyota has great respect for the strong-selling Hyundai, and we're guessing they're not the only automaker keeping an ever closer eye on Camp Hyundai. Sales of the Sonata soared by 35 percent in 2010 to 196,623 units. Meanwhile, 2010 Camry sales dropped by 31 percent to 327,804 units. To make matters worse for Toyota and the Camry, supply disruptions stemming from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami have further hurt Camry sales while the Sonata continues to attract new buyers. In fact, the Sonata outsold the Camry in May, in part because of Toyota's production issues.

But while the Sonata has been gaining on the Camry, that trend could reverse itself with an all-new Camry set to arrive later this year. Toyota President Akio Toyoda already told U.S. dealers in June that the new model will feature a more contemporary design, and we're hearing rumblings of a hugely improved interior, as well.

Toyota NA chairman Inaba calls Hyundai Sonata "honorable contender" originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyoda: Scion will soldier on

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Scion, Toyota

2011 Scion tC - Click above for high-res image gallery

Scion came out swinging when it launched in 2003 and sales hit a peak of 173,024 units in 2006. Since that time, however, things have been spiraling downward. In 2010, Scion sold just 45,678 vehicles. That represents a 21 percent decline compared to 2009 sales. Despite this lull, Toyota President Akio Toyoda says the youth-oriented brand isn't going anywhere.

According to Automotive News, Scion represents a way for Toyota to reach a young demographic, and it doesn't plan to lose that gateway anytime soon. One of the problems has been that folks under 30 have been hit by the economic recession just like everyone else. Another is that recent models have failed to capture the imagination - and sales - that models like the original box-like xB did. Analysts are predicting a sales rise in 2011 but will that rise include Scion's demographic? Toyota recently redesigned the brand's most-popular model, tC, trying to make sure it does.

Gallery: 2011 Scion tC: First Drive

Photos copyright (C)2011 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Toyoda: Scion will soldier on originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese automakers revise earnings estimates on strength of Yen

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Nissan, Toyota, Earnings/Financials

Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota, has stated that the Japanese automaker is planning to revise its earnings forecast due to the fact that the Yen has reached a 15-year high. The full-year profit forecast was based on a rate of 90 Yen to the US Dollar. It will be reduced to around 80 Yen to USD. The Yen has risen 15 percent against the USD and 13 percent against the Euro, which is not good for a company that has to repatriate earnings from its overseas sales.

Earlier this year, the rising Yen created concerns that Akio Toyoda would be forced to shutter some assembly plants. Toyoda assured the public that plants would not be closing, however more vehicle assembly is being shipped to overseas factories.

Toyota is not alone in making this move. Nissan has stated that it is looking at doing a revision of earnings as well as finding more locally sourced parts to aid overseas production.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Japanese automakers revise earnings estimates on strength of Yen originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Toyota president assuages fears that he's closing all Japanese factories

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota, Earnings/Financials

Toyota President Akio Toyoda caused something of an uproar in the automaker's home market of Japan when he suggested that "logically, it doesn't make sense to manufacture in Japan." Why? The surging value of the Yen, currently at a 15-year high, compared to the U.S. Dollar.

Considering that the vast majority of vehicles Toyota builds in Japan are intended for export and that the American market is still the automaker's most important, the value of the Yen is a major stumbling block standing in the way of profits. Still, Toyoda has confirmed that his eponymous company has no intention of entirely halting production in Japan.

What that assurance doesn't mean, however, is that Toyota won't continue to shift production overseas in an effort to retain profitability. While none of the Japanese plants will be completely closed, they may see a good portion of their output transferred to facilities in other markets... notably North America.

[Source: Just-Auto]

Report: Toyota president assuages fears that he's closing all Japanese factories originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus gifts Toyota an Elise with last 2ZZ engine

Dan Roth — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Lotus, Toyota

Lotus CEO Dany Bahar presents Akio Toyoda with a Lotus Elise R - Click for high-res gallery

The last Toyota 2ZZ-GE VVTLi four cylinder engine has been built, and Lotus got it. Lotus CEO Dany Bahar and Toyota Motor Corporation president Akio Toyoda came together at the British Embassy in Tokyo for a celebration where Toyota was presented with an Elise R carrying the engine by Bahar. The shindig marks a new chapter in the two companies' partnership, one that will allow Lotus to create powertrains that are more exclusively its own in future cars with the continued cooperation of Toyota.

Designed for Toyota by Yamaha, the 2ZZ-GE engine owed a lot to motorcycle engine practice, and the wide-angled valves and variable valve timing and lift system enabled the high-revving engine to develop 100 horsepower per liter, and even more when supercharged. Power levels floated between 160-180 hp naturally aspirated and as much as 250 when supercharged and intercooled.

The question now is what engine Lotus and Toyota will cook up to take the place of the 2ZZ-GE, now that its veteran power unit has been retired. We should find out more on that front at the upcoming Paris Motor Show. Follow the jump to see the press release.

Gallery: Lotus gets the last Toyota 2ZZ-GE engine

[Source: Lotus]

Continue reading Lotus gifts Toyota an Elise with last 2ZZ engine

Lotus gifts Toyota an Elise with last 2ZZ engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Toyota getting a unified look

Zach Bowman — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Japan, Design/Style

Toyota Venza - Click above for high-res image gallery

Word has it that Toyota is looking to put its new reputation for shaky quality and safety behind it by moving to a new corporate face. Evidently, head honcho Akio Toyoda has called for his company's products to have a more emotional appeal as part of a new global product philosophy, and as such, we can expect all of the automaker's models to wear a similar look across the board. According to Inside Line, the new language will be aimed squarely at making the company's smaller offerings appear larger. So far, there's no word as to whether or not this plan will spread to Lexus.

Evidently, Toyota is going to be spending the biggest hunk redesign efforts on tailoring both its vehicles exteriors and interiors to European tastes. The logic being that what flies in the old country will perform similarly well elsewhere around the globe. If that means the company is going to step up its materials game, we're all for it. In the mean time, we'll brace ourselves for an onslaught of carbon-copy models. You gotta love progress.

Gallery: 2009 Toyota Venza Press Shots

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: Toyota getting a unified look originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Tesla CTO confirms building two mules for Toyota

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:35:00 EST

Filed under: Toyota, Tesla, Electric

AutoblogGreen had the rare opportunity on Friday to chat with Toyota CEO and president Akio Toyoda. During the conversation, he revealed that a prototype vehicle with a Tesla electric drive unit was under construction. Tesla's Chief Technology Officer, J.B. Straubel, has confirmed this to CNN Money, saying that the Silicon Valley company is indeed preparing two mule vehicles for Toyota. Tesla battery packs, power electronics and motors are being installed into Toyota bodies.

Straubel expects to deliver the vehicles to Toyota by the end of of this month. Toyota officials told ABG that the initial plan is to just test the performance and durability of the Tesla packs to determine whether they meet Toyota standards. If Toyota proceeds with a production program using a Tesla-style battery (employing small laptop-type cells) it will be for a new vehicle, not the iQ-based EV arriving in 2012.

[Source: CNN Money]

Report: Tesla CTO confirms building two mules for Toyota originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Akio Toyoda would love to do a new Supra, probably won't happen

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Toyota

Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda "wants to see the next Supra tested in the near future." But the reality of his company's current circumstances means it's unlikely to happen.

During a discussion with U.S. journalists on Friday in Japan, Toyoda was asked about the possibility of building a car like a Supra that would appeal to enthusiasts. As such a huge company, Toyoda said, "even if one president says that we want to have a Supra again, the whole company is not going to be responding to that request."

Toyoda explained that he did much of his development as a driver behind the wheel of a Supra and has fond memories of flinging that model around the Nürburgring. Speaking through an interpreter, Toyoda told the group that "would like to create a car that is better than the Supra, and just for your information, I am not against this idea."

However, this discussion came against the backdrop of a week where Toyota officials acknowledged that the company had grown too quickly in the past decade and would need slow down and re-prioritize. Between ensuring that upcoming models are trouble free, meeting new fuel and emissions requirement and delivering the FT-86 by 2013, a new Supra is likely to remain just a dream for the foreseeable future.

Akio Toyoda would love to do a new Supra, probably won't happen originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Deep-Dive: Behind the scenes at Toyota's R&D center, Part Two

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Lexus, Toyota, Deep Dive

Behind the Scenes at Toyota's R&D Center - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's impossible to overlook the negative impact the recalls have had on Toyota's reputation for safety and reliability. Seemingly overnight, the automaker that could do no wrong has been brought back down to earth.

Sales of most of Toyota's lineup have been hit hard, with only fleet sales and big incentives keeping the retail side from looking worse. As we first told you yesterday in Part One of our series, in a move unprecedented in its history, Toyota has opened its doors and invited a small group of journalists into its product development facilities in Toyota City near Nagoya, Japan.

The goal is to show the lengths Toyota goes to test and evaluate its products both before and after they go on sale to the public, as well as to detail how those testing regimes have been altered in wake of their recent troubles. Given the sudden intended acceleration scandal, Toyota has chosen to focus on the work it does to verify the performance and reliability of its electronic throttle control systems. Make the jump for a primer on Toyota's engineering and manufacturing processes and how it's attempting to ensure that sudden acceleration will be snuffed out for good.

Gallery: Behind the scenes at Toyota's R&D center

Continue reading Deep-Dive: Behind the scenes at Toyota's R&D center, Part Two

Deep-Dive: Behind the scenes at Toyota's R&D center, Part Two originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota already building EV prototype with Tesla battery pack?

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Japan, Technology, Toyota, Tesla, Electric

During a interview with a group of American media this afternoon in Nagoya, Japan, Toyota president Akio Toyoda revealed that his company is already in the process of building a prototype electric vehicle with a Tesla battery pack. The statement came in response to questions about the relationship between Toyota and Tesla. As time ran out, we did not have an opportunity for further follow-up or clarification.

However, both Toyoda and executive vice president Shinichi Sasaki both indicated that Toyota was interested in comparing Tesla's battery configuration against their own internally developed battery. Toyota has a joint-venture with Panasonic that is building larger format automotive batteries that are similar to those used by most other manufacturers. By comparison, Tesla uses commodity 18650-format cells that are typically found in laptop computers. The Roadster's pack contains 6,831 such cells.

The long-term durability of the Tesla approach is still very much in question as few Roadsters have accumulated high mileage especially in harsh conditions that more mainstream cars would experience. We may or may not ever see a Toyota car with a Tesla battery pack publicly, as it all depends on the results of this study.

Toyota already building EV prototype with Tesla battery pack? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Akio Toyoda apologizes to shareholders, shareholder tells him to stop crying

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:26:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Toyota, Earnings/Financials

Now there's some sad things known to man, but ain't too much sadder than the tears of a... CEO? Apparently, at least one Toyota shareholder has seen enough tears and weeping from the company's not-so-fearless leader.

According to a report from Reuters, one of Toyota's shareholders requested, "Mr. Toyoda, you've been all over the media this year and you've gone teary-eyed on several occasions. For a man of your position, this is unacceptable. Please keep your chin up and try not to weep!"

Certainly, there are reasons for both Toyoda and Toyota's shareholders to smile - despite the recent spate of recalls (more than 10 million vehicles) and safety woes, the Japanese automaker still expects to turn an operating profit of 280 billion yen for the year ending in March 2011. After all that, though, Toyoda found it within himself to issue yet another apology, apparently in this case, sans tears.

[Source: Reuters | Image: Junko Kimura/Getty]

Akio Toyoda apologizes to shareholders, shareholder tells him to stop crying originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota CEO wants to add "fun to drive" to eco-friendly vehicles

Eric Loveday — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Hybrid, Toyota

Toyota MR2 Sports Hybrid Concept - Click above for image gallery

It's been far too long since Toyota's products have been imbued with anything short of clinical, appliance-like precision. Handling prowess and communicative steering has taken a back seat to ruthless efficiency, especially true when you turn to the company's eco-friendly vehicles such as the Prius, where the entertainment factor is basically non-existent. Toyota chief executive officer Akio Toyoda doesn't believe this is a viable path to the future, and has ordered company engineers to spice up the brand's products.

Before the Pedalgate debacle, Toyoda gave several speeches where he constantly talks about "seasoning" the company's lineup of bland vehicles and points out that future products will be "fun to drive." Toyoda notes that the company's hybrid sports car concept, a convertible loosely based on the retired MR2, is exactly the type of thing to expect from Toyota in the near future. As Toyoda said of the MR2 hybrid concept, "I wanted a car that shows what we are aiming for, something affordable, fun to drive and good for the environment." Making eco-friendly cars is something that's apparently quite easy for Toyota, but upping the enjoyability quotient from behind a Toyota steering wheel still presents a challenge. Still, we're definitely looking forward to the time when the combination of "fun-to-drive" and "Toyota" are no longer diverging concepts.

Gallery: Toyota MR2 Sports Hybrid

[Source: Autoweek]

Toyota CEO wants to add "fun to drive" to eco-friendly vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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