Toyota: no meaning in being #1

[DGthe3]

www.autoblog.com

Originally Posted by Autoblog

Toyota has said that the company is no longer interested in being the world's largest automaker in sales, according to Automotive News. Satoshi Ozawa, executive vice president for Toyota, was quoted as saying that there was no meaning behind the brand being in the top slot, and that customer service and satisfaction were more important to his company. Ozawa also said that he believes that Toyota will never have the goal of being number one.

In the past, the Japanese automaker had said that it intended to carve out a 15-percent slice of the global sales market. That would have made the company first in sales by default.

Toyota eclipsed General Motors as the world's largest automaker in 2007, but a recent rash of recalls, quality and reliability concerns have been attributed to the company's quick expansion. This year, Toyota expects to see profit fall by 31 percent compared to last year due to the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters of March of this year.

It reminded me of what I said about 2 and a half years ago:

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Toyota has been gunning for the #1 spot for years. That was their goal. So when I first heard that they finally became numero uno, the first thing that came to mind was 'King Nothing'

[FenwickHockey65]

Couldn't handle the pressure, eh?

Toyota should go into the history books as a textbook case of what not to do when successful in business.

[Number 3]

A different story evolved from pain, suffering and failure.

I remember reading an article 20 years ago that their number 1 goal was to be...............number 1. I guess they needed a goal that was to get to number 1 and stay there.

[The_Blur]

Toyota's ruthless pursuit of the top spot demonstrates that no manufacturer is immune to the responsibility of serving its customers.

I've talked to a large number of people who have sworn never to buy a GM product again. They are out there, and GM has clearly failed them in the past. It is worth mentioning, however, that GM did a sufficient job of maintaining so much clientele that even less than stellar products in memory made their way into consumer garages. GM managed to maintain a top spot in the automotive industry for a long time. Perhaps losing that spot to Toyota gave GM an opportunity to take that spot again for another long haul.

Without the reckless pursuit of an egotistical management team, Toyota would not have dethroned GM for the short time that it did. These failures of service would never have happened, and one could further speculate that GM would not be the company that it is today without someone cutting corners to beat them.

GM and Toyota were like two teams playing for the championship. GM had a few losses recorded but remained the reigning champ, and Toyota was the media darling, an underdog with a flawless season. Of course, the wins over that season turned out to me the manufacture of a team on steroids, engaged in a scheme with referees, and costing its fans a lot of respect. Toyota would win the game only to forfeit after allegations of cheating became more than just allegations.

GM, now a company in the fight to earn the spot so soiled by Toyota, has produced mind-blowing products and services for its customers. In the automotive industry, innovation and change are constant, and GM now knows that holding that crown requires the brands it owns to touch people with the best damned cars out there. Since Toyota's rise, GM has produced fuel economy leaders, performance legends, and monstrous workhorses. Like I said, innovation is constant, and defeating Toyota does not clear the way for another near-century of dominance. There are fresh competitors and new products from all over the world, and America isn't the only place GM must win the market. Fortunately, GM has an arsenal of products—Corvette, Camaro, Cruze, Silverado, Volt, Malibu, Regal, and many more—to help it on its way.

May the best car win.

[toesuf94]

Well said, Blur!

[syr74]

Originally Posted by Number 3

A different story evolved from pain, suffering and failure.

I remember reading an article 20 years ago that their number 1 goal was to be...............number 1. I guess they needed a goal that was to get to number 1 and stay there.

I worked with Johnson Controls for a time, and spent most of that stint working hand in hand with Toyota, and I can tell you first hand that these folks were absolutely obsessed with being number one during that period (mid to late 90's) I well remember sitting in a meeting and listening to the boys from Toyota City explaining that they/we would refine the Sienna minivan until it was the best selling minivan on the market.

I also worked with, believe it, GM for a time. Noteworthy, I was never more than 'on loan' to Ford. Go figure. And then only to help smooth the run-out of the Aerostar minivan (not really my standard gig, I largely did a whole lot of nothing and shot the breeze with some folks from Ford Brazil)

[8cd03gro]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Couldn't handle the pressure, eh?

Toyota should go into the history books as a textbook case of what not to do when successful in business.

I in no way am a Toyota fan by any means, but the same could be said about nearly the entire automotive industry over the past decade.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by 8cd03gro

I in no way am a Toyota fan by any means, but the same could be said about nearly the entire automotive industry over the past decade.

The auto industry is truly unique. For better or worse.

[a_Username]

Originally Posted by 8cd03gro

I in no way am a Toyota fan by any means, but the same could be said about nearly the entire automotive industry over the past decade.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by 8cd03gro

I in no way am a Toyota fan by any means, but the same could be said about nearly the entire automotive industry over the past decade.

The rest of the industry declined over a long period of time. Toyota went from the top of the world to near self-destruction in maybe a decade.

Simply put, Toyota wanted to be GM so badly that they ended up doing everything that led GM into the dumps. Just accelerated the process 50 times faster.

Bob Lutz's new book pointed out some very interesting tidbits about Toyota, especially their partnership with GM.

[dgformula2k]

Looks like now VW is chasing the same fantasy as Toyota.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by dgformula2k

Looks like now VW is chasing the same fantasy as Toyota.

It would be in their best interest to just sit down and shut up.

Hell, look at their newest offerings...Volkswagen is becoming as bland as Toyota is...





Oh, and let's not forget that Volkswagen beat GM to updating the Impala...

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

It would be in their best interest to just sit down and shut up.

Hell, look at their newest offerings...Volkswagen is becoming as bland as Toyota is...





Oh, and let's not forget that Volkswagen beat GM to updating the Impala...

[derklug]

Volkswagon's marginal quality has made it's goals of huge sales increases unlikely. It takes awhile to build a reputation for quality. Volkswagon had it in the 80's, but while their quality stayed the same, everyone else improved.