Trucks and CUVs drove Toyota’s results in May. Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – June 1, 2017 2017 Toyota Tacoma SR 4x2 with the 2.7L I4 mated to a 6-Speed MT - $$23,565 to start incl. the $960 D&H charge provides owners with a longevity story like no other pickup in the world and a range of ratings from 17/20 to 19/24 mpgUS city/highway rating depending on the configuration. Here is that list: 19/21/20 mpgUS city/highway (5-speed MT 4x4) 19/23/21 mpgUS city/highway (6-speed AT 4x2) 19/22/20 mpgUS city/highway (6-speed AT 4x4) 19/24/21 mpgUS city/highway (6-speed AT 4x2) 17/21/18 mpgUS city/highway (6-speed MT 4x4) 17/20/TBD mpgUS city/highway (6-speed MT 4x4 TRD Pro) 18/23/TBD mpgUS city/highway (6-speed AT4x4 TRD Pro) Expect to pick one up with only a $1,500 off retail at most. The 2016 Toyota Tacoma was partly developed by the Toyota engineering team at the Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich and it was penned by both CALTY designers in Newport Beach, Calif. and Ann Arbor, Mich. And it is being assembled at Toyota plants in San Antonio and Baja California, Mexico. 2017 Toyota Tacoma Drivetrain The Tacoma is offered with two engines. A 159 hp and 180 lb.-ft. of torque 2.7L I4 mated to a 5-speed MT or 6-speed AT. It also available with an optional atkinsonized 278 hp and 265 lb.-ft. of torque 3.5L with both direct and port fuel injection. This more powerful engine is more efficient 2.7L I4. 2017 Toyota Tacoma Exterior The Access Cab models ride on a 127.8-inch wheelbase and have a 73.7-inch-long bed. The Double Cab is offered in two versions: the 127.4-inch wheelbase with a 60.5-inch bed or 141.0-inch wheelbase with the 73.7-inch bed. It will be offered with four 16 to 18” wheel designs. Both bed styles include a composite inner bed made from a sheet-molded composite (SMC) deck and tough, durable walls that are 10-percent lighter than steel. The bed deck features two-tier loading and an integrated deck-rail utility system with four standard adjustable tie-down cleats. An available 120V/400W power point further extends the bed’s utility. The new Tacoma will be available in eight exterior colors including three new colors: Quicksand, Inferno, and Blazing Blue Pearl. Additional colors include: Super White, Silver Metallic, Magnetic Gray, Black, and Barcelona Red. For the first time ever, Tacoma will offer available an available factory-installed tri-fold hard tonneau cover for securing gear when you’re away from the truck. 2017 Toyota Tacoma Interior Some modern interior features are available with the all-new Tacoma including Qi wireless charging, Proximity key entry and start, leather, power moonroof, dual zone auto climate and BSM with RCTA. The new Tacoma is the quietest ever with improved door and window seals, a multi-layer acoustic windshield, sound-absorbing headliner and a floor silencer pad. Double Cab models feature 60/40 split rear seats with adjustable headrests and under-seat storage. All Tacoma models will feature a four-way driver’s seat with lumbar support and four-way adjustable front passenger seats. The SR and SR5 grades are equipped with fabric-trimmed seats. Seating for the TRD Sport and Off-Road grades are upholstered with embossed fabric. The Limited features leather trim. Interior colors include: Cement Gray (SR), Cement Gray; and Black with Caramel or Red colored seat stitching, dash and door accents (SR5), TRD Sport and TRD Off Road will be arrive with Graphite and Black with Orange colored seat stitching and accented instrument panel ring and the top of the line Limited will include Hickory leather-trimmed interior. 2017 Toyota Tacoma Chassis All Tacoma 4x4 models are equipped with 4WDemand part-time 4WD with an electronically controlled transfer case and Automatic Limited Slip Differential (Auto LSD). Tacoma TRD Sport models are equipped with sport-tuned shocks. TRD Off-Road models include an off-road tuned suspension equipped with Bilstein shocks. TRD Off-Road trim includes a Multi-Terrain Select system (automatic transmission only) allowing the driver to choose between different types of terrain such as loose rock, mud or sand. Each input regulates wheel spin by adjusting throttle and brake pressure to provide maximum traction on almost any terrain. Additional off-road technology includes Locking Rear Differential, Hill Start Assist Control (HAC), Clutch Start Cancel (manual transmission only), Active Traction Control, and Crawl Control. All Tacoma models are equipped with a coil-spring double wishbone with stabilizer bar up front and leaf springs out back. Brakes are ventilated front discs and drum with a tandem booster out back. Looking a bit aged again here? Optional on V6 models is a Class IV receiver with transmission oil cooler with water and air cooler, 130-amp alternator (manual transmission only), 4- and 7-pin connector, and Trailer-Sway Control. 2017 Toyota Tacoma Infotainment The SR includes base Entune Audio with a 6.1” touch-screen, AM/FM CD player, 6 speakers, Aux jack, USB 2.0 port with iPod connectivity and control, voice recognition, hands-free phone capability and music streaming via Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, and a backup camera. The SR5 arrives with Entune Audio Plus with all of the above plus Connected Navigation Scout GPS Link App, SiriusXM All-Access Radio, and HD Traffic and Weather. TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road includes Entune Premium Audio and Entune Premium JBL Audio systems. They feature Destination Search, iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com, OpenTable, Pandora, Yelp, Facebook Places and Slacker Radio plus real-time traffic, weather, fuel prices, sports and stocks. It also includes integrated Navigation, the Entune Multimedia Bundle with a 7” high resolution split display, Entune App Suite, HD Radio, HD predictive traffic and Doppler weather overlay, AM/FM cache radio, and Gracenotes album cover art. The Limited includes Entune Premium JBL Audio system with six JBL speakers and 1 subwoofer. Curiously missing is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 2017 Toyota Tacoma Safety All Tacoma’s arrive with front, side, knee, and side curtains. All arrive with VSC, TC, EBD, BA, brake engine override and Tire Pressure Monitor System (with individual tire location alert on most grades). The Tacoma will be reliable, chocked full of utility for a compact pickup and provide a nice performance boost over the previous gen. A buyer should expect to spend an average of $150 a month at the pump while driving 15k miles/year even with gasoline at $2.50 per gallon. Why highlight this truck? Because I made a request for one in California in a few weeks. Toyota May 2017 Sales Overview Toyota reported it sold 218,248 vehicles in May, down 0.5 percent from the 219,339 sold in May of 2016. On a daily selling rate (DSR) basis, sales were off by a more significant 4.5 percent. YTD sales of 952,785 are down 4.7 percent below the 999,545 sold through the same period of 2016. Toyota on its own achieved May 2017 sales of 192,847 vehicles, up 0.1 percent on a volume basis, and down 3.9 percent on a DSR basis from the 192,657 sold in May of 2016. YTD sales of 843,423 is down 3.5 percent below the 873,760 sold through the same period of 2016. Lexus is having a tougher time. In May, the luxury brand achieved sales of 25,401 vehicle, down 4.8 and 8.6 percent on a volume and DSR basis respectively. YTD sales of 109,362 vehicles are 13.1 percent below the 125,785 sold through the same period of 2016. The big news for Toyota in May was its truck and CUV lineup. Light trucks sales were up 12.4 percent. The RAV4 achieved May sales of 38,356 was up 18.9 percent over the 32,261 sold in May of 2016. YTD sales of 150,646 is up 8.7 percent over the 138,535 sold through the same period of 2016. Within, Tacoma achieved sales of 17,654 vehicles, up 6.7 percent over the 16,544 sold in May of 2016. YTD sales are a bit more constrained with sales of 78,153 vehicles, down 1.4 percent below the 79,226 sold through the same period of 2016. Tundra May sales of 10,677 was up 9.6 percent over 9,739 sold in May of 2o16. YTD sales of 43,809 are off 3.8 percent below the 45,533 sold through the same period of 016. Considering Toyota’s hybrid sales, the Highlander Hybrid achieved May sales of 1,514, up 220 percent over the 473 sold in May of 2016. YTD sales of 6,674 is up a just as significant 206 percent over the 2,178 sold through the same period of 2016. The U.S. Automobile May 2017 vs. May 2016 Market Share results. To begin, Ford outselling GM in May and gaining 0.5 percent market share was the big news. Both Hyundai and FCA lost .6 percent market share. The Accord broke back into the Top 10 last month and this month moved to number 5. I have not looked up incentive addons but there appears to be a hard push to move Accords at Honda dealerships nationwide. Not a bad car to be pushing either. Segment Items of note Despite the large incentives, both the aging Focus and new Cruze outsold the new Elantra. Sonata sales are slumping. The Tucson at 10,600 units in May is closing in on making Sonata the number 3 seller in the flying H lineup. Something that has never occurred before. CUVs are still hot. In the pickup truck segment, for the second month in a row Ford’s F-Series has outsold the entire GM pickup truck lineup, RAM outsold the Silverado for the third month in a row and Nissan's Titan appears to be leveling off near the 5k mark with Ridgeline hovering around 3k/month. When it comes to Hybrids, the Prius lineup is beginning to feel competitor’s offerings with the Kia Niro and Hyundai Ioniq together taking 4,487 sales that may have went to the Prius or possibly the hot selling RAV4 Hybrid previously. Kia’s Niro achieved sales of 2,660 and its monthly sales volume for the first time since its intro has fallen below the prior months result. Prius c is way off the mark and if there was ever a time to see a second gen, now is that time. In the Electric segment, Toyota's Prius Prime for the second month outsold the Volt while the Bolt picked up quite a bit from last month’s sub 1k/mo sales result. U.S. May 2017 Sales vs. May 2016 Sales Ranks and Results for the top 18 Automobile Manufacturers Ford May 2017 Sales Up 2.2% with 241,126 Vehicles sold GM May 2017 Sales Down 1.3% with 237,364 Vehicles sold Toyota May 2017 Sales Down 0.5% with 218,248 Vehicles sold FCA May 2017 Sales Down 0.8% with 193,040 Vehicles sold Honda May 2017 Sales Up 0.9% with 148,414 Vehicles sold Nissan May 2017 Sales Up 3.0% with 137,471 Vehicles sold Hyundai May 2017 Sales were Down 15.5% with 60,011 Vehicles sold Kia May 2017 Sales Down 7.0% with 58,507 Vehicles sold Subaru May 2017 Sales Up 12.1% with 56,135 Vehicles sold Mercedes-Benz May 2017 Sales Down 7.0% with 30,290 Vehicles sold VW May 2017 Sales Up 4.3% with 30,014 Vehicles sold BMW May 2017 Sales Down 11.1% with 29,878 Vehicles sold Mazda May 2017 Sales Down 7.9% with 26,047 Vehicles sold Audi May 2017 Sales Up 2.5% with 19,197 Vehicles sold Jaguar/Land Rover May 2017 Sales Up 13.9% with 8,106 Vehicles sold Mitsubishi May 2017 Sales Up 13.9% with 9,429 Vehicles sold Volvo May 2017 Sales Up 12.0% with 6,202 Vehicles sold Porsche May 2017 Sales Up 2.2% with 5,529 Vehicles sold In May, Ford moved ahead of GM as the number one U.S. Auto Manufacturer. This is a May anomaly but one we will be watching going forward. Mitsubishi moved ahead of Jaguar/Land Rover for the 15th spot. On a volume basis, May 2017 U.S. auto sales were up 4.1 percent. On a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis, May sales were up 0.05 percent. 2017 YTD sales of 6.97 million vehicles is down 1.6 percent from the 7.08 million sold through the same period and same number of sales days in 2016. There were 25 selling days in May of 2017 vs. 24 in May of 2016 and 125 days in both 2017 and 2016 as described numerous times above.
Toyota Canada May Sales Rise 7.8% Led by truck sales, Toyota Canada posted sales of 23,893 vehicles in May, up 7.8 percent over the 22,158 sold in May of 2016. YTD sales of 90,847 are down 0.6 percent compared to the 91,406 sold through the same period of 2016. Toyota Canada’s May results include an eleventh straight monthly sales record for the Lexus division, with 2,282 vehicles sold in May, up 11.9 percent over the 2,039 sold in May of 2016. YTD sales of 9,790 were up 12.7 percent over the 8,687 sold through the same period of 2016. Toyota Canada achieved a best sales month in history for truck sales in May with 14,088 sold in May, up 18.0 percent over the 11,938 sold in May of 2016. The made-in-Canada Toyota RAV4 led truck sales with an all-time best month result of 5,355 sold in May, up 10.0 percent over the 4,870 vehicles sold in May of 2016. YTD sales of 20,248 are up 4.1 percent over the 19,444 sold through the same period of 2016. On the car side, Corolla led the entire brand with May sales of 6,122 were up 13.7 percent over the 5,385 sold in May of 2016. YTD sales of 22,737 were up an even stronger 17.3 percent over the 19,377 sold through the same period of 2016.
At one point I was thinking of buying a Tacoma. I went and sat in one at the dealer and didn't even bother with a test drive. It had a very weird driving position, with the seat very low to the floor. And rear seat legroom was surprisingly bad, too. I was very surprised that such a large vehicle would have Yaris-like seating, it was definitely a league or two below what a full size truck is like.
Hi All: Pulling this one back from the way back machine. Toyota announced earlier today that they will be moving Toyota Tacoma production from San Antonio to Mexico. To improve operations, Toyota North America, Inc. will complete the following alignments by 2022. 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Toyota Texas (San Antonio) -- Toyota Texas (TMMTX) will produce full-size body-on-frame trucks and SUVs. It will continue to assemble the Toyota Tundra and will begin assembly of the Toyota Sequoia starting in 2022. TMMTX will cease production of the Toyota Tacoma by late-2021. Production capacity at TMMTX remains at 208,000 units annually, and last summer, it announced a $391 million new investment for multi-vehicle production capabilities. The facility’s total investment tops $3 billion; employment is 3,200. Toyota Guanajuanto (Guanajuanto, Mexico) -- Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California (TMMBC) has been assembling Tacomas since 2004. In December 2019, Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Guanajuato (TMMGT) began assembly of the Tacoma; both plants will continue to produce mid-size trucks. Production capacity at TMMGT remains at 100,000 units per year; employment is 1,000. As a result of this production alignment, there will be no reduction to direct jobs at any of Toyota’s facilities across North America.
Japan continues to place manufacturing facilities in countries with cheaper work forces, as the U.S. & Europe have done for many decades. All this is never good signs for the original developing country of technology. Nikon is making many cameras outside of Japan, even in communist china (always small letters).
