Comments on: Toyota to Export Big Trucks?

By: netrun

netrun — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:44:41 +0000

At least Toyota has options. They only have to sell a few thousand in every country to make it worthwhile.

And heck, long-term, if they surprise themselves and find some new markets for pickups, so much the better.

By: geozinger

geozinger — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:23:18 +0000

@dean,

I guess by that reasoning, you could say the same thing about all automakers in NA, couldn’t you? I think everyone was surprised by the rapid rise in prices. I know I was.

It seems like (at least in my neck of the woods) many people adjusted to $3/gallon gasoline rather quickly. I guess it would have been hard to know that ~ $4/gallon gasoline would have been the breaking point for this many people.

Nonetheless, I’m glad I don’t have to hawk Tundras or Borregos (or any car for that matter) for a living.

By: capeplates

capeplates — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:41:44 +0000

Thank God all companies dont operate on these beliefs otherwise Europe would be saturated with GM/Chrysler cast offs

By: Mirko Reinhardt

Mirko Reinhardt — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:25:05 +0000

Wait, there is a market for V8 bling-over-practicality trucks outside of NA?

By: Khutuck

Khutuck — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:08:11 +0000

Toyota should try selling these in Turkey ^-^ I’m paying 3.35 YTL to 1 liter gasoline, equals to 2.86 $ PER LITER. Equals to 10.82$ per gallon :) You’ll pay the same oil price by using a fuel-crazy ridiculously-big SUV in North America or using a 500cc motorcycle in Turkey. At least bikes produce far less CO2.

I hope Toyota fails to sell these meaningless pieces of machinery all over the world, these barbarous vehicles only belongs to mining industry, not cities or roads. If US can be like Europe, all the global warming stuff wil slow down.

By: alex_rashev

alex_rashev — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:22:46 +0000

The Russian gummint is subsidizing fuel prices, so we might be seeing Russian gangsters living large in pimped Sequoias.

Last time I checked, their prices are ~23 roubles a litre – a little under 3.70$ a gallon. Hardly a subsidy considering that they make the friggin stuff well-to-pump, without tarrifs or extra transporting.

Which is why most normal people there still buy the sensible 1.6-liter compacts. The oldschool mafia either got killded off or turned legal (and now drives 7-series), so everyone left with huge SUV’s are in the same position as their brothers over here (as in, weeks away from foreclosure).

By: dean

dean — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:34:17 +0000

@geozinger: I think Toyota may have been surprised a little by how fast the gas prices escalated, but I believe they probably would have made the same decision regardless. They made a serious committment to develop a competitive pickup truck because they felt there was room for growth in market share, if not market size. Toyota’s advantage is that they can weather a few bad years and be well positioned should the truck market rebound.

Your comment about the Borrego is spot on. I’ve seen the banner ads on this site and I can’t help but feel for the marketing people that are trying to find an angle to sell this thing in an era of $4+ gas!

By: RFortier1796

RFortier1796 — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:34:05 +0000

Toxicroach…

Yeah, they can handle to cold. Top Gear… google the Hilux in the North Poll.

By: BTEFan

BTEFan — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:55:21 +0000

Definately send them overseas. Venezuela, Russia, Middle East, wherever – export dollars are a great thing for the NA economy.

Saw pictures on the news of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia and thier current skirmish with Russia. There was an attack and the government folks who were scurrying for cover all got into an, umm, armada of Nissan Armadas. Looks like that vehicle has a future, like the Sequoia, as that 2nd and 3rd world leaders new fave form of transport.

By: geozinger

geozinger — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:14:10 +0000

This illustrates the folly that is the Tundra. Toyota can easily withstand the financial dent this will make, no doubt, but I’m not convinced of their wisdom in this venture. I guess they didn’t see the rapid rise in fuel prices, either?

In addition, I can’t wait to hear about what Kia plans to do with it’s dinosaur, the Borrego (sp?) Another monumental mis-step.

By: Frank Williams

Frank Williams — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:49:29 +0000

dastanley
Considering that the F-250 is the most stolen vehicle in New Mexico with entire vehicles and parts going to Mexico, why not try Mexico and other Central American countries?

But Toyota would expect them to pay for them.

By: TomAnderson

TomAnderson — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:42:37 +0000

I think this could work, actually. Think of all the warlords who could have bigger guns installed in their fleets…

By: The Luigiian

The Luigiian — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:36:54 +0000

The Russian gummint is subsidizing fuel prices, so we might be seeing Russian gangsters living large in pimped Sequoias.

Ah, this I did not know. Interesting.

By: Verbal

Verbal — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:27:42 +0000

The Luigiian: “Gas prices are high worldwide right now, I doubt they’ll find a place for these trucks.”

The Russian gummint is subsidizing fuel prices, so we might be seeing Russian gangsters living large in pimped Sequoias.

By: sitting@home

sitting@home — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:08:07 +0000

Toyota pickups seem to be the transport of choice of the Taliban. There’d be some sweet irony seeing a bunch of blokes shooting into the air shouting “death to America” on the back of an American built pickup.

By: The Luigiian

The Luigiian — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:51:20 +0000

Gas prices are high worldwide right now, I doubt they’ll find a place for these trucks.

By: dastanley

dastanley — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:23:19 +0000

Considering that the F-250 is the most stolen vehicle in New Mexico with entire vehicles and parts going to Mexico, why not try Mexico and other Central American countries? Venezuela possibly – they’ve got lots of oil and a crazy ass dictator. Just might work.

By: Cammy Corrigan

Cammy Corrigan — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:21:14 +0000

If they can run on ethanol, then Brazil might be a good place?

All that timber and fruit needs trucking somewhere……

By: toxicroach

toxicroach — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:12:17 +0000

If they can handle cold weather well they could be big hits in Russia.

By: menno

menno — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:12:05 +0000

Russia seems to be a great place to try to sell luxury SUV’s, not sure about monster pickups. At least they’ll provide a little inflow of money into the US from some exports, if they can pull it off.

By: 86er

86er — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:02:48 +0000

Middle East is the first place that comes to mind, but even that is questionable.

Trucks like the Tundra are a uniquely North American phenomenom and likely always will be.