Toyota forecasted to be #1 in U.S. market

[Bakemono]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...usiness+briefs

Toyota forecast to be No. 1 in U.S. market

Toyota Motor Corp. , the world's biggest automaker, will become the biggest seller of vehicles in the U.S. market next year after overtaking General Motors Co. , according to forecaster IHS Global Insight. It sees Ford Motor Corp. and GM essentially tied in second place for a couple of years until 2013, when GM is expected to move ahead. Honda Motor Co. , in fourth place, will gain market share slowly, according to the Waltham, Mass.-based firm.

[PhatRoyale]

That's pretty much a given. However, it only indicates a perspective that puts pure sales numbers into focus.

But what most don't realize is that Toyota has also been in the news as of late for their declining quality in their products, since their rankings in initial quality and reliability has dropped. There have also been numerous recalls, and as a driver of a Toyota vehicle, this has me worried about the potential of their future.

[got-rice]

+1

Who cares...that was the Toyota mentality. I hope they are focusing on, and it does sounds like they are, their product rather than marketshare, etc.

[Bakemono]

Originally Posted by PhatRoyale

But what most don't realize is that Toyota has also been in the news as of late for their declining quality in their products, since their rankings in initial quality and reliability has dropped. There have also been numerous recalls, and as a driver of a Toyota vehicle, this has me worried about the potential of their future.

Doubt it. It seems like the media loves to proclaim that the sky is falling every time Toyota has the slightest little problem.
People are well-aware of Toyota's quality issues of the past 5 years. Toyota has remedied those issues for the most part and if you look at the ratio of Toyota's production numbers and number of recalls today as compared to 5 or 10 years ago, their quality is actually better than it has EVER been.
You cant look at initial quality. Initial quality means very little. Long-term quality is what really matters and Toyota still dominates in that aspect.

[Dana_15]

Originally Posted by PhatRoyale

That's pretty much a given. However, it only indicates a perspective that puts pure sales numbers into focus.

I agree, sales mean nothing without profit. If they are still losing money it is irrelevent. I'd rather be making profit than making sales...

[got-rice]

Originally Posted by Bakemono

Doubt it. It seems like the media loves to proclaim that the sky is falling every time Toyota has the slightest little problem.
People are well-aware of Toyota's quality issues of the past 5 years. Toyota has remedied those issues for the most part and if you look at the ratio of Toyota's production numbers and number of recalls today as compared to 5 or 10 years ago, their quality is actually better than it has EVER been.
You cant look at initial quality. Initial quality means very little. Long-term quality is what really matters and Toyota still dominates in that aspect.

Many of these "issues" have happened as of late, especially with many of their newer vehicles built in the US (Tundra, etc.). The Tundra seems to have the most issues IMO, as I worked in a dealer. It's not that Toyota quality is piss poor, but no doubt has dropped. To say that the quality is better than ever seems farfetched.

Is Toyota dominant still? So far, the models from the 80s and 90s have been very good, which is why Toyota sales increased annually; as for the vehicles from 2000 and on, not bad, but not enough time has passed to assume anything.

And yes, IQS isn't really relevant, as American automakers have improved their scores as well.

[Bakemono]

Originally Posted by got-rice

Many of these "issues" have happened as of late, especially with many of their newer vehicles built in the US (Tundra, etc.). The Tundra seems to have the most issues IMO, as I worked in a dealer. It's not that Toyota quality is piss poor, but no doubt has dropped. To say that the quality is better than ever seems farfetched.

The issues with the Tundra were fixed after the first year. I would agree with you that quality did drop when they stopped making everything in Japan. Sad to say, but the Japanese worker have a much different mentality and take a lot more pride in their work than do Americans.
As for the claim of Toyota's quality being better than ever being, "farfetched", well, all you need to do is look at the ratio of production numbers to number of recalls.

Is Toyota dominant still? So far, the models from the 80s and 90s have been very good, which is why Toyota sales increased annually; as for the vehicles from 2000 and on, not bad, but not enough time has passed to assume anything.

You forget all the rust issues that Toyota had in the '80s and '90s. Their drivetrains nowdays last even longer and they dont have as much rust issues.

And yes, IQS isn't really relevant, as American automakers have improved their scores as well.

Exactly. Initial quality is the first 30 days. Id expect ANY vehicle to not have many problems in that time period. Look at the long-term reliability studies and you see the difference from Toyota/Honda to everyone else. Domestic vehicles still start to fall apart once they hit 150,000 miles.
Not that the domestics dont make good vehicles, they do. However, the notion that the domestics have caught up to the Japanese in terms of quality is flawed at best.

[got-rice]

Originally Posted by Bakemono

The issues with the Tundra were fixed after the first year. I would agree with you that quality did drop when they stopped making everything in Japan. Sad to say, but the Japanese worker have a much different mentality and take a lot more pride in their work than do Americans.

As for the claim of Toyota's quality being better than ever being, "farfetched", well, all you need to do is look at the ratio of production numbers to number of recalls.

I definitely agree the psyche of an American auto worker is very different from their Japanese counterpart. The only thing alarming about the recalls is that there definitely seems to be more with every new model. The same issue seems to happen to Honda as well.

You forget all the rust issues that Toyota had in the '80s and '90s. Their drivetrains nowdays last even longer and they dont have as much rust issues.

I probably don't know that because I live in California... I'm sure it was a problem with many cars of that era.

Domestic vehicles still start to fall apart once they hit 150,000 miles.

I wouldn't assume.