trouble ahead for u.s. truckmakers?

[alocispepraluger102]

While much of the auto world’s attention was fixed on the Paris Motor Show, US manufacturers were keeping an eye on the Texas state fair, where Toyota was rolling out a new pickup truck. Texas is ground zero in the pickup wars that are about to break out across the broad American landscape.

Thus, representatives from General Motors, Ford Motor Co and German-US DaimlerChrysler were all on hand for the annual State Fair of Texas in Dallas, which has become one of the biggest stages for new pickup trucks.

Toyota…has built a brand-new factory dedicated to full-size pickup trucks deep in the heart of Texas. Once the new plant in San Antonio is fully operational, Toyota expects to sell as many as 200,000 pickups annually, according to Brian Smith, Toyota corporate manager for truck operations. The plant is scheduled to open in November and dealers are slated to begin selling the trucks in February.

Toyota also is planning its largest advertising campaign ever in the US to promote the new Texas-built version of the Tundra.

The autoblog.com folks produced an overwhelming chunk of coverage from the Chicago Auto Show — a truckload! I guess you could produce a compendium of matching photos of nervous dealers for the American brands.

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/09/chicago...with-new-tundra

Edited October 2, 2006 by alocispepraluger102

[Rooster_Ties]

Build a better product, and people will buy it. They'll even pay a premium for it.

It ain't that hard to figure out -- and if the American automakers can't figure that out, then they're putting the nails in their own coffins.

When Toyota and Hondas routinely get 200,000+ miles per vehicle, even quite often 300,000+ miles --- and comparable cars from U.S. auto manufacturers only get some fraction of that --- it's no wonder that Toyota and Honda are winning this race.

Edited October 2, 2006 by Rooster_Ties

[Jim Alfredson]

A good friend of mine is letting us (organissimo) borrow his Toyota Sienna minivan for this East Coast tour. My minivan is too small and plus it has a bench seat in the middle. The Toyota is a bit longer and has bucket seats in the middle, so I can take all but one out, have enough room for three people, and all our gear in one vehicle. Bad-ass.

Anyway, it's a 2004, and I just have to say it's the nicest minivan I've ever driven. I'm in love with this car. When my Plymouth dies, I'm getting a Toyota.

[king ubu]

Build a better product, and people will buy it. They'll even pay a premium for it.

I don't know about pick ups or cars, but to me it rather seems to go like this, nowadays: provide the best marketing (and have good lawyers) and people will buy (regardless if it's old or new or good or the crappiest sh*t you ever saw).

[BERIGAN]

Well, the big three won't be able to compete with these trucks for many reasons, the main one being that Toyota will have a young workforce. They won't have to worry about paying retirement benefits(They will leave Texas for Mexico, or China before then) and of course a younger work force will be healthier. No unions to deal with I imagine, so they will pay them much less as well. Wait til the Chinese work their way into western auto markets, no one can touch the price of cars and trucks built by slave labor.

Actually, Trucks are built much better than cars today because at one time, believe it or not, trucks were used as work vehicles.

Edited October 2, 2006 by BERIGAN

[Claude]

Actually, Trucks are built much better than cars today because at one time, believe it or not, trucks were used as work vehicles.

Yes, but are these trucks or just big heavy cars?