Toyota posts record sales, profits as US rivals slump

[Ian David]

Toyota Motor, the world's second-largest and Japan's top carmaker, said it posted record annual sales and profits, in marked contrast to its faltering US peers, General Motors and Ford.

It said Tuesday that year to March net profit rose 0.8 percent to 1.17 trillion yen (11.15 billion dollars), with operating profit up 0.3 percent to 1.67 trillion yen on sales of 18.55 trillion yen, up 7.3 percent.

<snip>

Sales in the key North American market were up 8.0 percent to 2.27 million, led by the Scion series and the environmentally friendly Prius gasoline-electric hybrid car.

Many analysts are already saying the Japanese company could sooner rather than later dislodge GM from the world number one slot,having already overtaken Ford for second.

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[kaygore]

1. When will they learn?

As far as I am concerned, any car manufacturer that sells the Humvee deserves to crash and burn!

The US car manufacturers don't give a rat's a** about safety, the environment, their workers, the future of us all--nothing. They just want to make sure that their old boy (white boy) network of executives get obscene pay for running the company and the country into the grave.

I can buy a Japanese car and get good gas mileage and drive it for several 100,000 miles (in fact, my 1987 Toyota Camry was stolen about 4 weeks ago. Can you imagine anyone in his or her right mind stealling an American car that old that hadn't had a complete make over!!!???

I sure miss my car, but at least I have been house sitting in Portland, OR, where there is safe, economic, easy to access mass transit! Oh that all of the US were so progressive!

[Merlot]

2. Not suprised - there's a Prius (or two) everywhere you look

My friends husband (faux watchin' and gun collectin') says that the hybred is not a good idea because what will we do with all the lead batteries?

Ok, I'm willing to entertain the idea that disposing of batteries may be a problem. Would that be worse than the amount of gas they save and pollutants they don't cause?

He lives in Texas, where I guess the hybred scares them!

edit: typpos!

[Coastie for Truth]

3. Batteries are recycled

In most countries you can not buy a new battery without turning in the old one.

The technology for recycling the batteries is pretty well developed. And, the "business plan" is for most/all of the hybrid batteries to be Ni-Hydride or Li-Ion ---> which are recycled.

If you read the Battery Warranty for the Prius and the Honda Hybrid - you must turn in the battery.

BTW - does anyone realize how much of the steel, copper, and aluminum is recycled.

[Merlot]

4. That should clear up the idea that we'll be swimming in lead batteries

I've really never heard so much resistance to something as when I told them I was thinking of getting a hybrid. Then they told me that the batteries don't last long (wrong again) and that they are SO expensive that if something goes wrong with them you'll be stuck. When I pointed out that the batteries had an 8 year/150K warrenty, they said that 8 years wasn't very long, what happens then??

What are they putting in the water in Texas?

[Coastie for Truth]

9. I read the warranty carefully - with my son the trial lawyer -

and bought the Prius.

[Bombero1956]

5. I posted on this before

why do Toyota and Nissan get a free pass from the American car buying public when they make vehicles that suck gas just as badly as the big 3 American auto makers. The Toyota Tundra pick-up gets the same gas mileage as the Chevy S-10 Silverado and the Ford F-150. The Toyota Landcruiser and the Nissan Armada get the same gas mileage as the Ford Explorer and Chevy Blazer. I think it's more to do with Americans love of all things foreign made than displeasure with poor gas mileage.

[blondeatlast]

6. Reliability. My Ford Taurus was endlessly in the shop.

I've had a '99 Camry since 2001 and it hasn't seen the shop since I bought it other than routine maintenence.

And at least they started the ball rolling.

They don't benefit from corporate socialism, either.

[Ian David]

7. They're at least giving consumers a choice. I'm still not pleased though.

[Coastie for Truth]

8. I BEG TO DISAGREE

FLAME ON

I HAVE A PRIUS.

I DO NOT NOW, NOR HAVE I EVER HAD A PICK UP TRUCK.

I DID HAVE AN SUV WHILE I LIVED IN THE SNOW BELT - THE ONLY REASON I BOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE FORD, CHRYSLER, TOYOTA, AND HONDA HAD DISCONTINUED AWD FAMILY CARS, THERE WERE NO SUBARU DEALERS WITHIN 100 MILES, AND I COULD NOT AFFORD A MERCEDES OR AUDI AWD.

I SOLD THE SUV SHORTLY AFTER I MOVED OUT OF THE SNOW BELT, AND BOUGHT A COROLLA. I BOUGHT THE COROLLA

FOR THE MILEAGE
FOR THE CLEAN EMISSIONS
FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLINESS

WHEN IT CAME TIME TO REPLACE THE WIFE'S OLDER COROLLA - BOUGHT THE PRIUS BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE WITH SEVERAL PREVIOUS TOYOTAS (AND BAD EXPERIENCE WITH CHEVVIES)

SENDAI AND TODEI AND MUNCHEN ARE NOT BETTER ENGINEERING SCHOOLS THEN MICHIGAN STATE, UNIV OF MICHIGAN, UNIV OF DETROIT, WAYNE STATE, MICHIGAN TECH, OR LAWRENCE TECH. WHY CAN'T -- OR WON'T -- THE US "BIG THREE" MAKE THESE CARS????????????

THE PROBLEM IS THE FRIGGIN "MBA BEAN COUNTER ANAL SPHINCTER MANAGEMENT" OF THE BIG THREE. THEY ARE STILL USING "HARLEY EARL" IN THEIR ADS - AND LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN - INSTEAD OF OUT THE WINDSHIELD TO SAY WHERE THEY SHOULD BE GOING.

THE ISSUE IS NOT THE TOYOTA TUNDRA. IT "WHY DO THE BIG THREE MANAGEMENT GET A FREE PASS FROM THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WHEN THEY COULD JUST AS EASILY MAKE A HYBRID" (GM INVENTED THE FRIGGIN HYBRID - NOT TOYOTA)

I WORKED ON THE GENERAL MOTORS EV1 PROJECT FOR A PRIMARY, FIRST TIER VENDOR. GENERAL MOTORS WAS NEVER SERIOUS ABOUT ELECTRICS - OR EVEN HYBRIDS. THEY GOT INTO ELECTRIC TO PLACATE (COMPLY WITH) THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD AND THEY FOUGHT THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD AT EVERY TURN IN THE ROAD.

GM'S TOP PRODUCT SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGERS ARE NOT EVEN ENGINEERS -- THEY ARE LAWYERS.

I AM A BORN IN THE USA, EASTERN EUROPEAN HERITAGE, ROUND EYED PH.D. ENGINEER (WE ARE ON THE "ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST") - IN THE ALTERNATIVE AND RENEWABLE AND GREEN ENERGY FIELD. I WAS ALSO A GENERAL MOTORS CORP NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR.

FLAME OFF

[democracyindanger]

10. Yikes. I think your post is burned permanently into my monitor.

Just kidding. I completely agree. US manufacturer management has been grossly negligent. They keep pumping out guzzlers, grabbing all that short-term profit, while ignoring how the market is quickly changing. It's the 70s all over again.

[Coastie for Truth]

11. You think United Airlines Pensions were an issue

Next will be the GM Pensions and GM Retiree Health Care. They are already dropping hints about health insurance.

If Rickie Wagoner (GM CEO) was doing his job - GM would not be in the "Junk Bond" category, could service their pensions, and could pay for retiree and active employee health insurance.

But Wagoner will get his bonus -- and the GM employees in Macomb County will get the short end (and reduced pensions, and no health insurance).

[idlisambar]

12. Noone should get a pass

Experience has shown that Toyotas and Hondas tend to be more reliable than other brands, so there is some information conveyed by the brand. Nevertheless besides this every individual car should be judged on its merits, so Tundras and LandCruisers should recieve negative marks on energy and environmental grounds. The problem is that when evaluating brands it is clear that the American brands rely almost exclusively on gas-guzzling vehicles -- this is why the association is so strong, and why GM's and Ford's prospects are now looking so weak.

[triguy46]

13. Just wait...

I know GM is going to roll out a new version of the Aztec, yeah, that's the ticket, people really do want an ugly vehicle with bad gas mileage and falls apart at 47,000 miles, yeah and hey that name, Aztec, thats really trendy and hot and will catch those young hip stay at home moms.....