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Are Death Taps Already Sounding For The Tundra?

Agent009 submitted on 03/18/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 12:37 PM
from: www.topspeed.com

[39] user comments | category: Misc News

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Are Death Taps Already Sounding For The Tundra?

Call it the miscalculation of the decade, at least so far for the Toyota Tundra.

The first note of taps for the Tundra were sung last week.

Toyota is cutting production of the Tundra. According to the Wall Street Journal, they may even pull production of the light truck from the Princeton, Alabama plant that Toyota built expressly for the Tundra and consolidate it with Tundra production in San Antonio, Texas.

Build a state-of-the art new plant to build a new truck. Within two years of introducing it, the nation’s premier financial newspaper says you may pull the entire show out of the plant designed for the product?

Toyota cited the overall ten percent decline in sales in the light truck market as justification for the production cuts, asserting that they were merely designed to keep production in line with demand.

However what it all means is that - long-term - the Tundra is dead.

Special Thanks to Audispy for the tip!

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pchera01 - 3/18/2008 12:50:49 PM

+1 Boost

well, if Toyota struggle, what will happen to Nissan with next Generation Titan

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91z4me - 3/18/2008 1:10:01 PM

+6 Boost

Nothing. Nissan scaled their production and projections for lower volume. Toyota is expecting BIG things from the Tundra which have not so far happened.

pchera01 - 3/18/2008 12:51:35 PM

-9 Boost

but still Toyota doesn't care, Toyota is not GM or FORD to worry about their sales

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M35MT - 3/18/2008 1:08:50 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

"However what it all means is that - long-term - the Tundra is dead."

They cut production and you come to this conclusion? Are you 8 years old?

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M35MT - 3/18/2008 1:15:19 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=a7rb0Lapiji8&refer=home

Read this for a reality check.

Agent009 - 3/18/2008 1:48:14 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Nice to ask me to read an article I posted back in January. I am neutral on this one, however.

But a word to the wise.. wasn't Bear Stearns claiming there was no problems early last week only to collapse less than 7 days later?

Morale of the story: base your opinion on all of the stories not just one. This is only one side of the equation obviously.

SteedPub - 3/18/2008 1:18:21 PM

+10 Boost

Large light truck sales are down for EVERYBODY.

Whether or not the Tundra is doomed is anyone's guess. When it comes to full sized trucks, Americans still have an American brand loyalty.

That said, it is time for the automakers to start thinking on different lines as it relates to trucks. The North American market is virtually the only place in the world where such vehicles exist en masse.

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07G35J - 3/18/2008 1:22:07 PM

+3 Boost

"However what it all means is that - long-term - the Tundra is dead"

Is Toyota struggling with Tundra sales? Yes. Then again, who isn't with the gas prices the way they keep going up.

Is the Tundra dead? I DON'T THINK SO!!!

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fuzion - 3/18/2008 1:33:51 PM

+2 Boost

Ugh.. i hate you 009 :(

I won't even voice my opinion on the article.

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Agent009 - 3/18/2008 1:53:21 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

No more fan mail from you? I'll be so sad

1970toyotamarc - 3/18/2008 1:39:54 PM

0 Boost

This article is absurd. Toyota came within a hair of selling 200,000 Tundras last year, right in line with their projections. That pace has continued in the first 2 months of this year. The Tundra is nipping at the heels of the Sierra for 4th in sales, without an HD version.

Get some perspective.

Ford, GM and Dodge truck sales were down last year, while the Tundra was (of course) way up.
Conquests make up a large percentage of Tundra buyers.
Ford has gone from 4 factories producing the F to 2, and is selling about 200,000 less than in their heyday.
The GM twins debuted within a few months of the Tundra, and it was the Tundra that saw the massive sales spike, not GM.
Chrysler, GM and Ford will be shutting down plants for summer vacations soon.

Every mfr will be down this year, in some cases, spectcularly due to this horrific economy. Toyota is wise to consolidate now. Plants will be idled. Truck, SUV, even car and CUV sales will be down by double digits in many cases. Yet it is news, no, more than news, a deathwatch, that Toyota announced slowing down production amidst all this? C'mon.

With diesels, HDs, and even more configurations on the way, the Tundra is here for the long haul. Get used to it, stop deluding yourselves.

Anyone remember what the topselling cars of the '80s were-Cavalier, Escort, Celebrity, Taurus, Lumina. And now-Camry, Accord, Corolla, Civic, Altima. No one predicted this dramtic shift back then. But if Honda learns lessons and gets he next Ridgeline right, if Nissan updates its Titan wisely, add the strong selling Tacoma, and you will have a truck onslaught, led by the Tundra, that will rival the car onslaught of the last 20 years. You can put that in the bank.

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RS4inPA - 3/18/2008 2:19:11 PM

+5 Boost

toyota's sales were "way up" only because the previous versions sales were nearly non existant. big deal. the truth is the new tundra is not the 600lb gorilla that toyota thought it would be. regardless of market conditions. maybe next time they won't use 1970's technology when they design the frame. C-channel garbage. they built it on the cheap and this is the return they deserve.

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Leezell - 3/18/2008 2:54:13 PM

-1 Boost

How much stock can you put in an article written by someone who doesn't even know where the Princeton plant is?

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Whelan - 3/18/2008 3:24:45 PM

+3 Boost

Apparently whoever wrote this article has no concept of what or where the US economy is now.

The US Auto Industry is forecasting its worst sales in over the last decade this year due to the declining housing market, credit card debts going overboard, and companies falling and merging left and right to avoid heavy layoffs and buyouts.

So if you were a company who realized that this was going to be the worst year for your product to sell in a long time, would you keep production ramped up or tone it back while keeping the workers employed during the slow time.

One thing you could look at is the fact that slowing down the production cycle will lead to a higher quality and reliability because there will be more time spent on inspecting and upgrading current processes in the line.

Get a clue, pickup a Wallstreet Journal and pay attention.

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Whelan - 3/18/2008 3:26:12 PM

+1 Boost

Lest we also not forget that this also means oil increases so people are moving towards more efficient vehicles.

And everytime the Fed cuts a rate which has been steady for a few months now, the oil prices do go up cause that does temporarily weaken the dollars strength.

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audispy - 3/18/2008 5:22:36 PM

-4 Boost

Note: Toyota Tundra became the first truck with a $2000 rebate, starting the price war which hurt the big 3 and Toyota.

Toyota entered this market knowing there was much to sacrifice. It dropped the plan for a heavy duty truck line, considered by most to be essential to credibility of a truck brand, and then put incentives on the Tundra, exactly the desperation strategy that everyone in Detroit long ago learned sacrifices long-term interests for short-term gain.

Toyota then began the process of builg the Princeton plant specificly for the Tundra. A plan that was not fully looked through or researched. Without a full understanding of teh market and it's slowing sales, Toyota pushed it's plans forward.

And now Toyota has been hit in the face with the boomerang they threw. The sales of the Tundra last year failed to match the already low standards of Toyota. Of course, Toyota trumpeted sales increases by comparing sales of the new full-sized truck to its obsolete mid-size predecessor. And slowing Toyota is withdrawing their plans, cutting production of the Tundra, and even planning of moving production out of the very plant that was specialy built for it.

This can be blamed on many things: the slowing market, Toyota's few dealership's in comparison with the big 3, or even the lack of recognition of teh Tundra. In the end however, it all comes down to Toyota's apparent limited research of the market. None of the rason I have listed are things that just appear, but they are things that already exist or happen over time. Toyota should not have missed it, but they have.

Tundra's death may not be visible yet, but it is a likely evet that could soon follow. Both Ford and Dodge introduced new pick-up trucks this February, in dealer showrooms by fall. Both will be newer, fresher and available with far more features and options than the Tundra. Chevrolet, which has dominated (at least when combined with the companion GMC brand) the light truck market for the past decade, isn’t going away, either.

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DieselRules - 3/21/2008 1:51:20 AM

+1 Boost

Very informed and logical posting (even if there are lots of typos).
So, of course, you get de-boosted a lot.
Don't worry ... that's normal on this site.

StickShiftCamry - 3/18/2008 5:42:42 PM

+3 Boost

"Long Term - Toyota Tundra is Dead"? SOO. Some ppl get these just so they could get a cheap big block and RWD.

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adoptgreyhounds - 3/18/2008 7:19:52 PM

+7 Boost

How many of you use a truck for a TRUCK?
What I mean is towing/carring heavy loads.

I bought three Tundra's last Augest to haul cars and trucks, I've never had a problem with any of them. My trucks Avg. with trailer 7500lbs per day 6 days a week at 585 miles per run MPG. avg. 13.2 running 73mph. For a work specific vehicle in it's class (petrol V-8s) nothing I've used or my drivers works better.

Oh my father works at the plant GM builds the GMT900 and he and his co-workers are all very impressed with the Tundra.

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RS4inPA - 3/18/2008 7:31:02 PM

-2 Boost

13.2 mpg running 73mph with 7500lbs......BS!!!!

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adoptgreyhounds - 3/18/2008 7:57:02 PM

+1 Boost

I can only go by the read out the computer gives me. Believe me I was shocked too.

How do u like your RS4 very nice ride. My M3 saloon arrives 3.28.08

Homer008 - 3/18/2008 7:57:19 PM

+2 Boost

The Biggest Clock of BullS..t article I have ever read on the Autospies upto date....LOL.

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carnuts - 3/19/2008 1:26:16 AM

-3 Boost

No my friend.

The Tundra itself is The Biggest Crock of BullS..t

EL34 - 3/18/2008 8:28:48 PM

-1 Boost

The Tundra is deader than a door nail just like Lucy would say.

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germanyy - 3/18/2008 10:14:28 PM

-2 Boost

i dont care if toyota goes complet out of business . because of japan and china ,the usa has now all the problems

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carnuts - 3/19/2008 1:25:11 AM

-3 Boost

LOL

Who buys a JAP pick-up anyways?

See-yah, unreliable POS.

Tundra has drivetrain issues.

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AMiodynski - 3/19/2008 12:10:26 PM

+2 Boost

The Doemstics have had, and still have alot more problems than the Imported vehicles!! So just becuase your driving a piece of sh*t, doesn't mean the japanese are building crap!!

Mercedes - 3/19/2008 2:05:52 AM

+1 Boost

I think Toyota sucks generally, but lets not be ridiculous here. Toyota wouldn't pull the plug on this truck to save their lives. It means too much to their bottom line and it is still a viable entry into the market. Toyota has the money to stick with this.

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DWolff - 3/19/2008 4:37:14 AM

-1 Boost

well if it were to happen that toyota would stop making the tundra then good riddance why would you need to buy a jap-crap tundra when you could just buy a nicer, better f250 or ram 2500?

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Whelan - 3/19/2008 9:33:10 AM

+2 Boost

HA! Ford has no appeal to me anymore. And for the Dodge. My friend had a brand new Ram 2500 with the dump package, lift, all leather, suicide doors. Literally every box checked. He used it for plowing and in the 3 years he had it, he went through 2 tranny's. The truck couldnt handle day to day and work.

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xlr8 - 3/19/2008 11:02:07 AM

0 Boost

well crap man with 4 dollar a gallon gas, no diesel option, and high price....it was bound to happen!

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huu76 - 3/19/2008 11:32:50 PM

+1 Boost

I didn't even know they had a 2nd Tundra plant.
Toyota can always reopen the plant. Right now, they can live off their more fuel efficient models. The big 2 1/2 don't have that luxury so of course they're trying to give their trucks away.
Who knows, maybe they'll start building Camry's in Alabama once the Fuji/Subi plant is maxxed out.

$4/gallon must really be weeding out the hick posers from the real workers/sportsman who need trucks.

I like how the guy says Toyota had to give a $2000 rebate. Buddy should check these out.

$3000 in price adjustments, free sunroof and 0% for 72 months.
http://gm.ca/gm/english/corporate/offers/price-adjustment/Ontario

Toyota dropped their prices because of the US dollar on all models EXCEPT the Tundra.
http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObjects/WWW.woa/1/wo/Home.Vehicles.Pricing-1VoAmgqWYBRpQDbRaZc5FM/0.9?fmg%2fvehicles%2fticker%5fv200000e%2ehtml

Tundra financing is 4.9% for 60 months and 8.5% for 72months (hell, BMW is only charging 1% on their used models and 3.9% on new). Canadians must take more of a liking to Tundras because they have become much more common then before.
http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObjects/WWW.woa/1/wo/Home.TFS-1VoAmgqWYBRpQDbRaZc5FM/9.9

I guess our American cousins are really hurting if they can't afford to buy trucks anymore.

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jberger - 3/20/2008 9:45:47 PM

+1 Boost

The article is a joke.
There is no Princeton, Alabama toyota plant. There is a Princeton Indiana plant that made the old Tundra and Sequoia. That manufacturing was already slated to be moved to the Texas plant once they quit building the old models.

The only Toyota plant in Alabama is an engine plant in Huntsville that makes V6 and V8 engines for the trucks.

Toyota hit it's internal goals for the Tundra in 07 and revised the figures for 08, they are NOT pulling the plug. Anyone who understands the "Toyota Way" knows they don't care about quarterly or annual sales, it's concerned with 5 and 10 year planning.

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