Founder's grandson may take over struggling Toyota
#1
12-27-2008, 07:35 AM
Founder's grandson may take over struggling Toyota
Wantanabe's arrogance and willingness to forgo quality to reach the #1 carmaker has finally caught up with him.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081225/as_ja...yota.html?.v=2
Focusing on green technology and developing small cars and hybrids should work well for Toyota with today's $1.40/gallon gas.
Watanabe had overseen Toyota's stupendous expansion, riding on the success of its fuel-efficient models. Toyota's global vehicle sales have grown for nine years straight - a string that will almost certainly end this year.
Watanabe has now promised to halt expansion plans, cut thousands of jobs in Japan, slash costs and postpone the start of a Mississippi plant, while focusing on green technology and developing small cars and hybrids to prepare for the next growth opportunity.
"Things are so horrible I don't see what a personnel change would achieve," said Tsuyoshi Mochimaru
Watanabe has now promised to halt expansion plans, cut thousands of jobs in Japan, slash costs and postpone the start of a Mississippi plant, while focusing on green technology and developing small cars and hybrids to prepare for the next growth opportunity.
"Things are so horrible I don't see what a personnel change would achieve," said Tsuyoshi Mochimaru
Focusing on green technology and developing small cars and hybrids should work well for Toyota with today's $1.40/gallon gas.
#3
12-28-2008, 09:40 AM
Re: Founder's grandson may take over struggling Toyota
Sure, in 6-months or 6-years? Keep in mind that I posted a few months back about the price going below $3.50. I would've never thought it would get as low as it is now.
However, wrt Toyota, it is interesting to see that they are no better than Detroit in predicting future gas prices or guessing the buying public's reaction. In Detroit we focus on stupid things like: "flying corporate jets" and executive bonuses that were set by the respective board of directors in years past. Watanabe was adamant that he wanted the #1 Worldwide Sales title and wanted to "crush" Detroit. The end result was $1.3B to build a full size truck plant in San Antonio that now sits idle and rushing the latest Avalon and Camry to market, which resulted in un-Toyota like quality. Luckily he didn't have a chance to screw up the Prius, although Toyota's current financial loss has halted the start of the Mississippi plant set to build Prius.
Fortunately, Toyota's Chairman, Fujio Cho, is quoted saying:
However, wrt Toyota, it is interesting to see that they are no better than Detroit in predicting future gas prices or guessing the buying public's reaction. In Detroit we focus on stupid things like: "flying corporate jets" and executive bonuses that were set by the respective board of directors in years past. Watanabe was adamant that he wanted the #1 Worldwide Sales title and wanted to "crush" Detroit. The end result was $1.3B to build a full size truck plant in San Antonio that now sits idle and rushing the latest Avalon and Camry to market, which resulted in un-Toyota like quality. Luckily he didn't have a chance to screw up the Prius, although Toyota's current financial loss has halted the start of the Mississippi plant set to build Prius.
Fortunately, Toyota's Chairman, Fujio Cho, is quoted saying:
Environmentally friendly cars will soon cease to be an option ... they will become a necessity.
.....
To reach our goals as an industry, we must continue to cooperate in the laboratory -- and compete in the showroom,
.....
To reach our goals as an industry, we must continue to cooperate in the laboratory -- and compete in the showroom,
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