Handling a Downturn the Toyota Way

CORRECT 2010 Pri is not a plug in... BUT, late edition 2010 will be offered to commercial fleets in summer initially, with expected private sales to start 2011

Ironically, I have also heard several people also blame Washington, but for the opposite reason! For raising mpg and emissions standards so high that the Big 3 couldn't make any money. Oh, and no one really wanted clean, high mpg cars, Washington forced them on the Big 3 and on us.

Sad and frustrating. I feel dirty that top selling cars like the Camry, Accord, Civic, and Corolla were forced on us consumers.

I think I will keep an eye on how toyota handles the "downturn" over the next year.
Toyota May Cut U.S. Payroll as Unsold Autos Pile Up (Update1)

Bloomberg.com: Worldwide

article in NY Times this morning. Toyota is scheduling workers for more class time, going to one shift in places, etc. so, they are cutting back production hours. estimated to produce more than 10% less cars for now... i'm sure more cutbacks will be forth coming.

not going forward with the Pri plant is a mistake imm. they need to cut large vehicles back and increase the small ones, especially the Pri.

Re: handling the downturn the Toyota way.

Here is ,THE TOYOTA PROMISE.

We will never stand still, where others might rest, Toyota will move forward and seek out the opportunity to do even BETTER.

Toyota product and services will represent the finest QUALITY and VALUE, to improve life for OUR CUSTOMERS while respecting the earth's resources.

Our effort will be guided by two principles:
CONTINUOUS improvement and respect for people.

This simply means:

We honour our guests as welcome guests and serve them in the manner they desire.

We respect the time and priorities of our customers and collegues.

We practice the belief that "There is no best, only better".

Together, we will bring this commitment to life at every opportunity, for every customers.

THE TOYOTA WAY

It will be interesting to see how Toyota handles itself the next couple of years. I am sure a Toyoda was the most qualified car guy in the world to lead toyota in the future.

Like Lutz?
I can't believe anyone can see Detroit and think all is going great guns in the US auto industry, the place is a hovel. It didn't get that way in a few months either!

Lutz is a great "car guy" but does not do well in the PC world we live in. He knows what sells and sizzles.

Lutz didn't exactly do very well with the sudden increase in oil prices, then the crashing economy.

I believe you're RIGHT. And that's EXACTLY why he's jumping ship, like the rats usually do ... right when GM needs REAL leadership. Maybe that's the real reason he's conveniently finding it time to 'retire'.

This is not a "fun" time to be in the auto industry and if I was 76 years old I would go to the beach or wherever too.

doh.

To add insult to injury, GM's past leadership failures has again come back to haunt it:

Polish your resumes: green car job alert! | Up to Speed | Los Angeles Times

GM left this company in the lurch when they went into 'Crush' mode. Now, they're likely shaking their heads in pity.

From the article you posted is seems AeroVironment Inc. only made the precursor to the EV-1, the GM Impact concept car.

Some here might find it interesting the GM has announce the end of their High Performance Vehicles Division, the Division responsible for the SS and V versions of cars. It is the GM equivalent to BMW's M Division or Mercede's AMG

GM disbands High Performance Vehicle Operations - [Cadillac V-Series and Chevrolet SS] - MotorAuthority - Car news, reviews, spy shots

Sorry but perhaps I didn't make a clear enough point. Here, AeroVironment is booming ... having a TOUGH time hireing up, making money and GM is NOT booming ... having a TOUGH time avoiding banko. Yet GM turned their back on the very EV technology that they owned (never mind all of GM's lies about 'no waiting list of thousands' to get the EV1) and had over a 1/2 decade lead on. The irony of GM's stodgy leadership into the 21st century and the consequences of their poor leadership breaks my heart. The bright side is companies like Toyota (and AeroVironment) didn't follow the same 'pooh-pooh technology' path. Here's a nice read on history of AeroVironment (the company that GM backed away from) and its founder. He aint no bob lutz.

Paul MacCready

its great that they are hiring but not surprising in anyway. what we simply refuse to acknowledge is we are in pradigram shift in transportation technology. transportation being the huge part of our social fabric means many things will emerge as others go away. there is no amount of money that will save GM ON THEIR PRESENT COURSE

that is why the government is doing it right... shows us A MAJOR CHANGE in direction of your company or go to hell.

what is going to happen in the next 3 years is a major jostiling for position by these new companies to provide new products to replace the void left by GM.... in a few decades we will have a company nearly as big (probably not quite as big. i dont think any company will ever flourish by attempting to diversify that much)

there will me many new companies coming and going in the next decade. here money will be made if one chooses the right one to invest in