Very interesting article, must read!
http://global.forbes.com/columnists/...0221flint.html

...of course, Jerry Flint looks about 90 years old, his lifetime might not be THAT long!

 

What makes it significant is that while Ford and GM DO sell that many trucks each year, they are selling less and less of everything else, whereas Toyota is increasing in every category, including trucks. So, yes, while we may not be selling as many trucks as Ford and GM, we WILL be selling 250,000 more vehicles, and they won't.

It's only a matter of time before GM goes bankrupt anyhow (unless the government bails them out), and we'll have to see what happens then.

I think that Flint will be around to see that.

 

Read through Flints past articles and you will see that he strongly believes that GM nor Ford are going banko anytime soon. In fact, he thinks they never will. Interesting.

It probably takes 2-3 years to build a new factory from scratch. Maybe Flint plans on kicking the bucket in a couple years, eh?

 

We are not out to build hundreds of thousands of Tundras to compete with production numbers,we just want to build the better truck!

 

Well, I would have to disagree... I think that Toyota wants BOTH -- high volume of a better product -- WITH fat profit margins!

 

We DO want both - more product AND better profit margins. The more trucks we sell, the more we force the domestic companies to build a better product, and since they aren't set up for that, we can continue to take their market share.

Here's another article that disputes the no-banko mindset pretty hard:

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortu...9111/index.htm

 

I can see it now .......right under my medicare tax
Ford/GM Tax

 

I LOVE IT!!! that was funny!!!

wait..... what if it happenes???

 

"I know that things will turn around."

Only turnaround will be a full 360.

Ford at least hase some qaulity although little style.
Dodge at least has style though less quality.

Chevy weak style and quality. I'm not sure how they have maintained market share this long. Fanatical loyalists I guess.

 

GM has better quality then Ford.

 

That depends on what car/truck u r talking about

 

**** Ford vs. Chevy:MY BAD

Tundra more reliable than both! Any challengers refer to consumer reports.

 

What Daimler-Chrysler has that neither Ford nor GM have is PROFIT. They actually made money last year, and didn't hemmorhage cash all over the place.

Now, granted, Toyota made more than the top 12 OTHER auto makers COMBINED, but that's just tooting our own horn, isn't it?

 

Just on the truck side there is no way we can compete with the volume of say..Ford. But if we build a more quality truck with low volume what looks better?Along with a profit!We didn't need "employee pricing" or" family and friends pricing" to make it this year.

 

Dodge formerly our worst of the big 3-bought out by a foriegn group-now only profitable of big 3. Few consumer goods are being produced in america now. NAFTA may have increased company's profit margins and consumer's buying power: but eventually the rest of the world is going to decide the dollar is toilet paper. Then we won't have production or buying power. I now that sounds pessimistic but its where I see the american economy going. If anyone wants to "explain how" this is'nt going to happen: I'm all ears.

 

I agree. And with deficit spending like it is. In the 'not so far' future, a load of bread will cost $100. There will be such a huge disparity of the classes (high, low) that I wouldn't doubt if a depression is on the way. But hey, I am an engineer, what do I know about economics..hopefully I am wrong..LOL.

 

Somewhat a preference thing on some of that. IMO ford has all the "style" of a cup of vanilla icecream... Dodge has guts maybe.. but the ugliest cars on earth as far as I am concerned.. they did good with the big ugly grill on one truck now they think it belongs on every car they make. As far as quality.. given my experience and the constant info I get via my dads shop.... Fords electrical systems are somewhat better than GMs.. GM is marginally more mechanically sound than Ford.. and Dodge is just sucking bottom on both (they have NEVER made a good tranny or diff IMO).

GM needs to get out of the rut on their car styling.. but I am liking what they are doing with thier trucks... And the caddys have been getting better and better looking IMO.

but they all need to get off thier @$$es and start tyring to gain some ground.

I think GM introducing the 2007s already is the dumbest thing I have ever seen. I LOVE the new Tahoe... but why instantly downgrade the market for the 06 models by introducing the 07? I doubt the 06 was doing terrible enough to warrant that. But hey.. I dont know everything they were thinking either.

 

Maybe by introducing the 07's theyre really trying to save thier a$$es from (toyota overtaking them in sales and) thier loss of money this year. Also theyre really trying to push the e85 fuel to try to get thier stuff up as well, stating thier "1.5 million vehicles on the road now are compatible." Yeah its probably a downright shame that the government probably wont let them go bankrupt...they really need to experience it in order for them to do a major turn around.

 

I would say that Toyota doesn't necessarily have the goal of being the number one truck. However, I'm sure their goals include a steady increase in market share over the coming years. They want to offer more choices in the vehicle market that will encourage more customers to buy a Toyota. If they happen to eventually become the best seller, I'm sure they won't be upset. They didn't have a goal of having the best selling car when the Camry was introduced 20 years ago, but look what happened!