Featured Toyota Gets F On Their Latest Dividend Safety Grade

Except reviews show it doesn't charge at that rate and doesn't get that range.

Next?

 

The only part Toyota is finding in short supply are paying customers. Having bought my $15,440 second car, a 2017 BMW i3-REx from '441 Toyota' in Palm Beach, the Toyota problem remains.

Bob Wilson

 

Outdated reviews is a common tool for some.

 

Or in the case of Consumer Reports, "outdated reviewers." <GRINS>

Munro Associates is pretty much my only reviewer. They take the cars apart, cost both parts and labor, and comment on the quality of the vehicle parts and assembly. What they like, I'll buy for my requirements.

Bob Wilson

 

I'm glad John likes his bz4 ..... & that it works for his particular use. It may work as a gateway drug to things that charge 2X as fast & go 50% further. Choices are good.

 

What does that even mean?

 

Outdated information & sources along with the reality that software & battery can be updated independently of the platform is a common "oversight" with online discussions.

For those who are on their game, they see that Toyota responded to initial rollout feedback already. For those acutely aware of market change, they see that Toyota's risk of splitting battery supply was a sensible business move. For those who are very impatient, they write off Toyota as having failed. For those who Toyota is ultimately targeting, they couldn't care less... since they are mainstream shoppers, those who wait for "kinks to get worked out" before considering the purchase of any new technology.

It's nice to see that some priorities of ordinary consumers are finally starting to emerge from the early-adopter noise. Not understanding what it takes to appeal to those who don't frequent online venues is a major barrier to widespread acceptance. The reviews we have to deal with makes that even more of a challenge.

 

Always check dates, verifying what you share is current. More often than not, it is already outdated and you end up unknowingly feeding a narrative. It gets worse when the post is vague.

In this case, the "it doesn't charge at that rate" becomes fodder for antagonists. The software update rolled out in Europe got reviewed and the results tell a different story. At 32% SOC, the observed charge-rate was 144 kW. Think about what people assume when "that rate" is talked about. There's far too much room for assumption.

Again, keep in mind that mainstream shoppers will develop their impression of the vehicle delivered when they start to actually shop for a new vehicle. First impressions really don't mean much when there isn't a purchase to consider. We saw that countless times with Prius. This new chapter in history with bZ4X following that same path are hinting at a similar outlook.

 

$42,000. is only expensive because they don't qualify for the fed credit. toyota needs a usa plant

 

Or a 'trade-in.'

Bob Wilson

 

john1701a
I enjoy your comments and find them knowledgeable, balanced and on topic.

I think the individuals here don't really want to be informed but are only interested in spouting off their negative opinions to provoke - such as "Toyota needs to build a plant in the USA". Toyota has 14 plants in the USA and has another under construction. One of them (USA Plant) is currently nearing a trial production run for their newest EV.

Interesting tidbit - the new President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Kentucky (Toyota's largest Plant in the world) Is a former line worker who started out in the Powertrain Plant as an Hourly line worker in the engine plant. He worked his way up from this position through the ranks to 30 years latter be the new President of TMMK.

Toyota has created a new position to head its North American EV Division. The Senior Vice-President and Leader of this new Division is the former President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Kentucky- she is a former farm girl from Indiania who went to college locally and became an Engineer, worked her way up from apprentice engineer thru the ranks to become President of the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Plant in Indiana and then President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Kentucky until she was promoted to Head Toyota's USA EV Program.

Two exceptional people who started out at the lowest rungs in the Company and who thru hard work, talent and exceptional work ethic will have a seat at the table at the highest level to help determine the future and success of Toyota.

Quite a far cry from the internet trolls who continually delight in throwing rocks at Toyota and have no say or impact.

I believe I may take a break from posting here and let things play out awhile as Toyota slowly and surely makes meaningful, thorough progress toward their goals and see how some of these naysayers react.

 

Let’s hope that when Toyota has an ev plant here with qualifying batteries, there will still be a tax credit available

 

The blatant effort to evade detail and shoot the messenger is a sad testament to the unwillingness to be constructive. That's why I don't post much here anymore.

 

Are you actually going to sit there and claim that Toyota forming a special committee, something they haven't done in decades, 10 months ago to re-evaluate their EV strategy was all part of the plan.

Exclusive: Toyota scrambles for EV reboot with eye on Tesla | Reuters
There was at least two threads on this topic here.

Compared to the competition, and not just Tesla, it is expensive for the performance. The same was said about the UX EV. Why didn't they listen to that feed back.

Toyota fixed things because of what those reviewers said, though it could still be lacking compared to the competition. Too bad Toyota didn't listen to what was said about their past Evs, or look at what the competition was doing before making the bZ4X.

Maybe you'll be able to get a used one for under $25k.

 

...listen to the narrative of popular media fed by enthusiasts obsessed with their niche priorities.

No.

 

If it works for you, Great! I hope you are enjoying it.

Toyota's timeline really is targeting 2028 for most of their offerings if you read what they actually are signaling. This really is as fast and they can do it on a new platform and I wish them luck. It is hard to turn around a big ship. It takes 3 years for a battery plant, and toyota around 5 years for a new car design. I believe without north american production and some redesign the b4zx is too expensive to shift to very high volume production at the price they can sell to consumers. They are learning though, and I expect the next models to be much less expensive to produce.

Day 1 really was over a decade ago when the first successful long range plug-in was introduced. It and batteries were very expensive back then. Rav4 is definitely a good plug-in, toyota just needs to make enough and stop dealers from asking such a premium over MSRP.

Its 2023 not 2003, and the ground has shifted since the gen II prius's success. The prius hit a lot of boxes and was ahead of other auto makers. In plug-ins toyota needs to switch back to being a fast follower, which I believe is there current strategy in plug-ins. They were acting with their PACs to slow plug-in adoption, I hope that has now ended with the management change. Remember how the "father of the prius" claimed that toyota's hydrogen would quckly outsell teslas? I am glad he is no longer chairman of the board.