Toyota Back On Line In Three Weeks. Maybe. Maybe Not
Toyota hopes to re-open its shut NA plants by the end of February. Then, sales of eight recalled models will be re-started, said “three sources briefed on plans” to Reuters:
Also, if the shim solution is approved, Toyota dealers can begin fixing flawed accelerator pedals as early as next week, said the anonymous sources.
Says Reuters: “If all goes smoothly, Toyota could limit losses to a four-week sales shutdown after a recall that has rocked its reputation in its largest market.”
However, Reuters’ sources call that target “ambitious because of the massive number of vehicles involved and the need to conclude a review by U.S. safety regulators.”
No jobs will be lost. Workers will stay busy with maintenance work, training etc. until the matter is resolved.
Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons said the automaker has not determined when it can resume production.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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@ Gardiner: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!! Genius!
How can Toyota be simultaneously shipping revised hardware and waiting for approval from NHTSA? Either you are shipping without approval (with hope, or strong confidence, or as a way to pressure NHTSA into blessing your fix), or you are not; Or you wait until the fix is proven and approved before making it and shipping it, or you don't; Or put out all kinds of confusing and contradictory information, or you don't; Or you get out infront of the issue and honestly and transparently control the message, and by informing, preventing conjecture, supposition and rumours, some made of good intentions, others not, from rushing in to fill the vacuum of your silence and creeping into the public consciousness, or you dont; And Mr. Toyoda is hanging in Davos while his company lurches thru the greatest crisis in its history ... I begin to wonder if anyone has their hands on the wheel of this issue and this company... BREAKING ... just as I finish typing this, CNN flashed an alert that NHTSA has approved the fix and parts will ship next week (but I thought they were already shipping?).
First, the problem was supposed to be driver error. Then, it was supposed to be floormats. Now, it's supposed to be an acclerator/accelerator mechanism issue. I still don't think Toyota really knows what it is, but with this three to four week shipping window for gas pedals, they've bought themselves some time. I'm still going with bad drive-by-wire code or maybe faulty ECMs or something. It's anyone's guess, really.
The last time I visited a Toyota dealer, back in April 09, they held me for one hour so they can get me a "fair" price for my trade, needless to say it was way too low and the price of the new Toyota was way too high, I felt cheated by a bunch of sales personal that probably used to judge you as stupid unless you prove otherwise, when I asked why the Camry does not have folding side mirrors as the Corolla, they told me that folding mirrors make wind noise??? After I left, not buying into their tactics, they called me to ask if I'm steel interested in buying the car, I said, "no, I bought a car already", he asked what kind of car, I said "a Mazda", he's reply was "A Mazda??" as if I said "YUGO". Now, I feel like going back to the same dealer, park my Mazda in front and ask the same sales person if I can trade it to a Camry, what will he say? "MMMMM.... our cars are not so safe, so I can't sale you the car????"