atlaw4u
07-14-2008, 08:01 AM
Japanese automaker says it over-estimated market demand for its large Tundra pickup. (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080711/AUTO01/807110355/1148)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2008_Tundra_CrewMax.jpgChristine Tierney - The Detroit News - July 11, 2008
Toyota Motor Corp. will cut production of large trucks and SUVs, the automaker said Thursday, acknowledging it had over-estimated demand for its large Tundra pickup and confirming a profound shift in the kind of vehicles being sold in North America.
In a move that pleased dealers, Toyota also said it would build its popular Prius hybrid car at a new plant in Mississippi that was originally slated to produce Highlander SUVs, which will now be built at an Indiana plant instead.
Detroit's automakers and Nissan Motor Co. also announced recently that they would slash output of big trucks and SUVs -- in some cases permanently.
With these cuts, North American production of traditional trucks and SUVs is expected to drop to 3.5 million vehicles by 2014, or about half their peak levels of 2004, said Michael Robinet, vice president of global forecasting at CSM Worldwide in Northville.
Early last year, when Toyota rolled out its full-size Tundra pickup, large SUVs already were under pressure but pickups seemed more resilient.
This year, however, as gas prices shot above $4 a gallon, all but diehard truck buyers switched to smaller vehicles.
"We're surprised at the severity of the change this year," Robinet said.
After one of the worst sales months in its 50-year history in the United States, Toyota said Thursday it would halt production of Tundra pickups and Sequoia SUVs for close to three months, starting Aug. 8… http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080711/AUTO01/807110355/1148
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2008_Tundra_CrewMax.jpgChristine Tierney - The Detroit News - July 11, 2008
Toyota Motor Corp. will cut production of large trucks and SUVs, the automaker said Thursday, acknowledging it had over-estimated demand for its large Tundra pickup and confirming a profound shift in the kind of vehicles being sold in North America.
In a move that pleased dealers, Toyota also said it would build its popular Prius hybrid car at a new plant in Mississippi that was originally slated to produce Highlander SUVs, which will now be built at an Indiana plant instead.
Detroit's automakers and Nissan Motor Co. also announced recently that they would slash output of big trucks and SUVs -- in some cases permanently.
With these cuts, North American production of traditional trucks and SUVs is expected to drop to 3.5 million vehicles by 2014, or about half their peak levels of 2004, said Michael Robinet, vice president of global forecasting at CSM Worldwide in Northville.
Early last year, when Toyota rolled out its full-size Tundra pickup, large SUVs already were under pressure but pickups seemed more resilient.
This year, however, as gas prices shot above $4 a gallon, all but diehard truck buyers switched to smaller vehicles.
"We're surprised at the severity of the change this year," Robinet said.
After one of the worst sales months in its 50-year history in the United States, Toyota said Thursday it would halt production of Tundra pickups and Sequoia SUVs for close to three months, starting Aug. 8… http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080711/AUTO01/807110355/1148