Tundra had a tough month, but Toyota's not concerned

Mark Rechtin
Automotive News
February 21, 2008 - 12:01 am ET

LOS ANGELES - Sales of the Tundra fell short of expectations in January, but
Toyota is not worried about meeting its annual objective for the full-size
pickup.

Last year, the Tundra's better sales months were in the 18,000 to 22,000
range. But January's mark of 12,073 was well below that. On an annualized
basis, that came to a 185,000-unit clip. That's well below the 200,000-plus
mark Toyota has set for 2008.

" I learned from (former Toyota boss) Bob McCurry to never make long-term
decisions based on January and February business," said Jim Lentz, president
of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A." We're not pushing the panic button."

January is a slow month for Toyota trucks, usually representing about 6.5
percent of the annual sales mark, Lentz said in an interview. He added that
February sales are looking " pretty good."

" We have plenty of time to recover from 185,000 up to 200,000. The first
half of 2008, especially in pickup, is going to be more challenging. We're
comfortable with where we are," Lentz said.

Toyota will not pile on the incentives in reaction to a slow January, Lentz
said, adding that, " Typically we follow Detroit (in launching incentives),
we don't lead."

IMO with transmission rough shifts problems and some cam shafts
breaking on a new truck, the owners need to be concerned.

http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/bl...ndra-problems/



On Feb 21, 7:43 pm, "Ed White" <cewhi...@mindspring.com> wrote:
> Tundra had a tough month, but Toyota's not concerned
>
> Mark Rechtin
> Automotive News
> February 21, 2008 - 12:01 am ET
>
> LOS ANGELES - Sales of the Tundra fell short of expectations in January, but
> Toyota is not worried about meeting its annual objective for the full-size
> pickup.
>
> Last year, the Tundra's better sales months were in the 18,000 to 22,000
> range. But January's mark of 12,073 was well below that. On an annualized
> basis, that came to a 185,000-unit clip. That's well below the 200,000-plus
> mark Toyota has set for 2008.
>
> " I learned from (former Toyota boss) Bob McCurry to never make long-term
> decisions based on January and February business," said Jim Lentz, president
> of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A." We're not pushing the panic button."
>
> January is a slow month for Toyota trucks, usually representing about 6.5
> percent of the annual sales mark, Lentz said in an interview. He added that
> February sales are looking " pretty good."
>
> " We have plenty of time to recover from 185,000 up to 200,000. The first
> half of 2008, especially in pickup, is going to be more challenging. We're
> comfortable with where we are," Lentz said.
>
> Toyota will not pile on the incentives in reaction to a slow January, Lentz
> said, adding that, " Typically we follow Detroit (in launching incentives),
> we don't lead."

johngdole@hotmail.com wrote:
> IMO with transmission rough shifts problems and some cam shafts
> breaking on a new truck, the owners need to be concerned.
>
> http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/bl...ndra-problems/

Did you actually read beyond the bullet points on the link you posted?

Toyota was dumping thousands of Tundra's at the Manheim Auto Auction the
last three months of 2007, for as low as 24K, to meet their goal for the
year. On the east cost the Tundra was offered with a $7,000 discount as
well.



They were also dumping Camry Solara's on the rental fleets for $3,000 under
wholesale, with no minimum period in service provision, like domestics
require, helping maintain Camry sales over Accord, as the number one car
brand in the US





"Ed White" <cewhite3@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:13rsh7nkn6nts27@corp.supernews.com...
> Tundra had a tough month, but Toyota's not concerned
>
> Mark Rechtin
> Automotive News
> February 21, 2008 - 12:01 am ET
>
> LOS ANGELES - Sales of the Tundra fell short of expectations in January,
> but Toyota is not worried about meeting its annual objective for the
> full-size pickup.
>
> Last year, the Tundra's better sales months were in the 18,000 to 22,000
> range. But January's mark of 12,073 was well below that. On an annualized
> basis, that came to a 185,000-unit clip. That's well below the
> 200,000-plus mark Toyota has set for 2008.
>
> " I learned from (former Toyota boss) Bob McCurry to never make long-term
> decisions based on January and February business," said Jim Lentz,
> president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A." We're not pushing the panic
> button."
>
> January is a slow month for Toyota trucks, usually representing about 6.5
> percent of the annual sales mark, Lentz said in an interview. He added
> that February sales are looking " pretty good."
>
> " We have plenty of time to recover from 185,000 up to 200,000. The first
> half of 2008, especially in pickup, is going to be more challenging. We're
> comfortable with where we are," Lentz said.
>
> Toyota will not pile on the incentives in reaction to a slow January,
> Lentz said, adding that, " Typically we follow Detroit (in launching
> incentives), we don't lead."
>

Face it, the Tundra is an also ran in the competition for sales of full size
trucks. At best they have 5% of the truck market while Dodge sales are in
the upper twenties and both GM and Ford are well in to the thirties





"B A R R Y" <beech23pilot@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Urzvj.7327$Ru4.4706@newssvr19.news.prodigy.ne t...
> johngdole@hotmail.com wrote:
>> IMO with transmission rough shifts problems and some cam shafts
>> breaking on a new truck, the owners need to be concerned.
>>
>> http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/bl...ndra-problems/
>
> Did you actually read beyond the bullet points on the link you posted?