GM vs. Toyota

mkk21 submitted on 01/05/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 6:47 PM
from: www.msnbc.msn.com

[66] user comments | category: Misc News

Tags: GM, Toyota, Fight, No.1

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Toyota

Fight

No.1

GM vs. Toyota

If Toyota Motor Corp. has eyes on taking the title of world's largest automaker from General Motors Corp. next year, it won't happen without a fight.

In an interview Thursday, GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner said his company has room for growth worldwide and will forcefully defend its title.

"I like being No. 1, and I think our people take pride in it," he told a small group of reporters at GM's headquarters. "It's not something we're going to sit back and let somebody else pass us by."...

...If Toyota does pass GM, Wagoner said he would not be pleased.

"It won't be a happy day for me, but I've lost basketball games before in my life. You get ready and you learn and you go back the next day, and that's what we'll do," he said. "We're going to fight to keep the position, and if one day we lose it, we'll fight to get it back."...

...Toyota isn't concerned about becoming No. 1 globally, said spokesman Irv Miller. The company is working to keep its quality high, focus on customers and roll out its new Tundra full-sized pickup truck, he said.

"A perceived sales challenge for global leadership is not something we're even thinking about," Miller said.

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mkk21 - 1/5/2007 6:50:51 PMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

I think I realized why I don't like domestic vehicles so much. It's because of their arrogant, big-headed, dumb@$$ bosses. How arrogant can a person be. That's why I totally admire the Japanese for their humble and gracious attitudes. I hope GM goes down, crash & burn, I would be so happy!!!

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EL34 - 1/5/2007 7:33:16 PM

Show Comment -17 Boost

EL34 - 1/5/2007 8:02:34 PM

+2 Boost

Will, I agree it was uncalled for.

spiceace - 1/5/2007 8:57:16 PM

+3 Boost

el34...was Hitler a saint back then? Let the past be the past dude.

EL34 - 1/5/2007 10:13:31 PM

+1 Boost

mkk21 said, "I hope GM goes down, crash & burn, I would be so happy!!!"

Where's the outrage?

neutral - 1/6/2007 3:46:00 AM

0 Boost

Are you guys serious!?!?!, GM is an incredible part of America. Hoping GM dies it like like saying "I hope 324,000 people lose their jobs, go homeless, and starve to death." GM has shown it has made mistakes in the past and has move GREATLY to reconcile their past mistakes. Give the domestic brands a chance. I feel as if there are not enough logical adults on this site who really understand the auto industry and who should not be allowed to post on this site.

EL34 - 1/6/2007 5:31:23 PM

0 Boost

I hope ToyLex goes down, crash & burn, I would be so happy!!!

Let the boosting begin.

carfan3 - 1/6/2007 12:29:27 AM

0 Boost

For GM, it's about sales races and desperately hanging on to their No. spot"?????

Maybe in the past. Looks like they are more concerned with quality now. It is easy to judge a company from the outside looking in. Turning a company the size and age of GM around is not the same as a much younger and smaller Toyota. Depending on how many acquisitions and reorgs have happened over the years, in general, there are many more legacy costs associated with an older company such as GM.

I guess you can compare both companies' philosophies because you actually sat in on numerous planning sessions? Or is it merely speculation?

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carfan3 - 1/6/2007 10:27:46 AM

-3 Boost

You forget that GM is a global company. What are the majority of vehicles sold outside of the US? Cars. Are Opel/Vauxhall/Holden/Saab/etc. all trucks?

You must be a tree hugger from California.

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Lexus - 1/5/2007 7:40:20 PM

+4 Boost

Wagoner, yeah whatever bro! LOL:) our people take pride in it. What the people want is better car both in the designing and realiability dept.

Sure go ahead and make that 9.42 million vechicles GM and see if you could sale it. Any auto company can try to make alot of vechicles but can you sale all of it, without giving incentive and all the other freebie?

Lexus

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Lexus - 1/5/2007 7:44:12 PM

+3 Boost

El34, what hell is your problem man, that was the past this is now; secondly what does that has to do with this? Toyota pump in billion of dollars a years into this country. They also provide a security jobs for many of the American family that work for their plant.

Lexus

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paul3230 - 1/5/2007 10:24:30 PM

-4 Boost

Oh and GM doesn't???!! Give me a freaking break. GM accounts for 1% of the TOTAL US GDP. Dude..that's huge. Yeah, yeah, I know GM has laid off workers and have closed plants. Yep, it's sad. But GM still operates close to 80 plants in North America alone.

silverarrow2 - 1/5/2007 9:18:01 PM

-3 Boost

"...Toyota isn't concerned about becoming No. 1 globally, said spokesman Irv Miller. The company is working to keep its quality high, focus on customers and roll out its new Tundra full-sized pickup truck, he said"

Right! and I'm not interested in having Bill Gate's bank account.

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EL34 - 1/5/2007 11:12:54 PM

+2 Boost

Toyota should change the name from the Tundra to the Gargoyle.

Toyota designed a truck and tried to use the design cues the fugly Celica.

I wouldn't be caught dead in that truck.

huu76 - 1/5/2007 9:24:23 PM

+6 Boost

If you become #1 with crappy products, you'll end up like GM is currently. If you get big and continue on with quality products, you won't have to try to be #1, it'll happen on its own.

I'd rather be #2 and successful than #1 and falling.

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Dave - 1/5/2007 10:12:10 PM

+7 Boost

There's an old (proverb)saying that Chief Executive Rick Wagoner should know, if he hasn't already...."Greatness flees from him who seeks it, and follows him, who flees from it."

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courtstone - 1/6/2007 7:29:34 AM

+3 Boost

I like that saying Dave.

sexi_gay_boi - 1/5/2007 11:41:53 PM

0 Boost

why waste your time writing such a ridiculous post??? abviously toyota is better - okay so the '07 Camry had some tranny problems... but thats over!

Remember last week??? Less than 15000 miles on an '6 Caddy CTS-V and the dude's car was spewin' white smoke out tha back!!!!

When on record have you seen a Toyota (other than the '07 Camry) have extreme trouble?!?!?!?

this post sickens me on how half brained some people on this website are! lolz jeez

im out...

- sexi

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carfan3 - 1/6/2007 12:08:54 AM

-3 Boost

"Toyota isn't concerned about becoming No. 1 globally, said spokesman Irv Miller".....You're very naive if you believe that.

What is wrong with striving to be #1? I can hear conference rooms of number twos in every industry strategizing how to keep the status quo. Come on! If you are not #1, you're trying to be #1.

Proverbs and excuses all sound like sour grapes to me.

Toyota pumping in billions of dollars into this country? What about Toyota pumping a greater amount back to Japan as profit where the main headquarters is located......doesn't sound favorable for us.

Jobs? Sure they provide jobs. Do they create as many jobs as they are indirectly costing?......doesn't sound favorable for us. And the types of jobs that are being displaced, it's average educational levels, pay, etc. Are engineering jobs being displaced? Fact is that the big 2 still invest considerably more into our country and impact our economy to a much greater extent than any foreign-based auto company.

"admire the Japanese for their humble and gracious attitudes"....That is a load of bull. Ask many of the other asian countries if they see the Japanese as humble and gracious. They sold the perception hook, line, and sinker. BTW, who is #1 in China?

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flozel1 - 1/6/2007 2:17:07 PM

+3 Boost

"What about Toyota pumping a greater amount back to Japan as profit where the main headquarters is"

Dude, I'm not sure if you're aware...but if i would guess I would say the reason for this is that Toyota IS A JAPANESE COMPANY. Now, name me one FOREIGN company that poured as much investment in the US as much as Toyota has.

What really puzzles me is how some dimwits criticize Toyota for exporting boatlods of their vehicles to our shores and then when the company decides to build vehicles here, criticize them again for having their profits moved to Japan.

No one criticizes Microsoft and the other mega corporations with factories around the world from transferring profits back to the US.

But somehow, there's something so evil about Toyota that it doesn't matter what they do, they'd never get good press to some poeple here.

2JZSoarer - 1/6/2007 12:17:00 AM

+4 Boost

Who cares about being number 1,when your the richest car company in the world(Toyota)!!

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carfan3 - 1/6/2007 12:41:20 AM

-3 Boost

wouldn't be so brash....being the richest can change very quickly....like maybe a revaluation of the yen?

carfan3 - 1/6/2007 12:54:16 AM

-2 Boost

btw...speaking of the yen, look into which currencies are the most undervalued and how that effects trade and economies.

carfan3 - 1/6/2007 1:01:42 AM

-1 Boost

google: "most undervalued currency"

rocker - 1/6/2007 1:08:00 AM

+1 Boost

I always say, "Be careful what you wish for, you may just get it".

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huu76 - 1/6/2007 2:02:38 AM

+3 Boost

Carfan:
Read this and learn something. It may be undervalued, but it's not manipulated by the Bank of Japan.
http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7975056

Where do BMW/Chrysler/MB/VW/Audi all take their money? Atleast the Japanese leave a good portion in the form of high paying jobs.

Do you recall GM closing a plant in the midwest so they could move production to the Mexican plant that produced the Aztek? How about the Torrent/Equinox engine being built in China? The Aveo/Optra's being shipped in from S.Korea? The Ford Fusion being built in Mexico. Tahoe/Escalades being built in Mexico rather than expanding capacity in Wisconsin. I'm sure unions had nothing to do with GM/Ford's demise either.

It's people like you who give the Germans a free ride while harping against Japan that are part of the problem.

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carfan3 - 1/6/2007 2:30:35 AM

-4 Boost

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/11/14/DI2006111400874.html

"The argument is that Japan stopped intervening to keep the yen down about 18 months ago, so that the current value is, indeed, the market value. I think that misses a big point about Japan, which is that its government and major banks and financial institutions still work hand in hand to accomplish the same thing in other ways, by limiting the demand for yen from outside the country. There is also the system Japan has set up for using China, whose currency is pegged to the dollar, as a major target of FDI and source of parts for its manufacturing machine."

Nice try to redirect. The topic is not the Germans. By all means...feel free to start another thread about that.

BTW, Have I commented on the Germans? No, I did not. So how can you blindly make that assessment? Well, I guess that is your M.O.

How do you define "high paying jobs"?

Also, for GM, the closing of plants does not equate to a loss of jobs due to the Jobs Bank program that was set up a while ago (which I think was a stupid idea). This is part of the "legacy costs" I had mentioned prior.

carfan3 - 1/6/2007 2:31:40 AM

-3 Boost

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/
discussion/2006/11/14/DI2006111400874.html

carfan3 - 1/6/2007 9:21:00 AM

-4 Boost

For all of those that admire Japanese products and philosophies so much, why don't you just live there (if you don't already)?

carfan3 - 1/6/2007 10:22:27 AM

-3 Boost

Wildo! Once again stinking your juvenile nose in where it does not belong! Learn to read before submitting a reply. Did I say I hate everthing that is not American?

Did I strike a nerve? Did you try to move to Japan and felt out of place?

To reiterate for those who are reading impared, if you love the Japanese way of life, move there and be happy. I love the USA and am tired of folks that bad mouth anything about it....including it's auto industry. Oh yes! Us Americans can't possibly stack up to other nations and cultures! (sarcasm) BS! We have great people. Always willing to help other counties in need, especially when a natural disaster hits.....but everyone always forgets the good. We are always the evil folks and the Japanese are always the saints and saviors. WTF!

carfan3 - 1/6/2007 9:55:52 PM

+1 Boost

If you love America so much, it's companies deserve at least a fair chance. What is the last GM or Ford product you have owned?

carfan3 - 1/6/2007 10:01:08 PM

+2 Boost

btw...look who's talking....your comment "trailer park with your confederate flag and continue being ignorant" is bigoted.

Lexus - 1/6/2007 2:53:50 AM

+4 Boost

Give a break bro! did I say GM does not provide work for American workers? NO! Read the post first before you reply to it.

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truckmen - 1/6/2007 4:42:40 AM

+2 Boost

If Toyota wins that would get Chevy to fight harder and hopefully will improve product and not more flowery PR.In the end as a Canadian I want America to have the best vehicles because when America is doing bad Canada does bad.With all this competition hopefully it will improve reliability and extend warantees of more companies, after all don't they believe in there product?

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carfan3 - 1/6/2007 10:34:25 AM

+2 Boost

Is China the 52nd state since the yuan is tied to the US$?

carfan3 - 1/6/2007 10:32:39 AM

+1 Boost

Perl Harbor was brought up before.
If folks can forgive Perl Harbor and buy Japanese products, then surely, GM and the American auto industry can be forgiven for it's past indiscretions.

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carfan3 - 1/6/2007 10:35:57 AM

+1 Boost

spelling correction....Pearl Harbor

carfan3 - 1/6/2007 10:04:49 PM

+1 Boost

Look at the anti-American comments....and the comments about GM or Ford....are the majority of them truely fair?

huu76 - 1/6/2007 5:18:34 PM

+2 Boost

Don't try to talk economics with Carfan, you're definitely barking up the wrong tree.

Who is China's greatest FDI contributor? It's not Japan. Did you see the part in my article that states currency traders are borrowing from Japan to buy up other currencies because their prime rate is so low (about 12 years ago, it was 0%). Why don't you complain about China manipulating their currencies to steal GM plants away from America?

It's obvious you don't know how well Germany did when the Deutschmark was valued so low a while back.

Redirect my ass. It's ignorant ppl like you who probably blindly buy German cars built in Germany and Mexico/American cars built overseas while bitching about Honda/Toyota's built in Kentucky, California, Indiana, Ohio, Ontario, Texas and all their associated local parts plants scattered across N.America.

I'm almost beginning to think you hate them for other reasons.

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Rupert - 1/6/2007 8:50:42 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

china is also stockpiling huge amounts of US dollars, by not buying back many goods with the money they make from selling goods to the US (think how many made in china stickers you see). one day, they'll sell all their dollars. then the dollar will plummet in value. there will be an economic disaster.

carfan3 - 1/6/2007 9:47:34 PM

0 Boost

Why did I not complain about China? Because that is not the topic. Is Toyota based in China? No. I know your ADHD impairs you from staying on topic; however, thankfully, you have me to real you in. Like I said before, if you would like to discuss the transgressions of other countries or companies, by all means start a new thread.

Huu, you know nothing about me, nor my background. You really need to learn to keep your inexperienced mouth shut and leave the more elevated conversations to those that can handle it.

huu76 - 1/6/2007 5:19:52 PM

+2 Boost

My mistake, about 12 months ago, their rate was 0%. It's 1.25% now, much lower than everyone elses but it's rising because they're economy is recovering.

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lexusis350 - 1/6/2007 7:32:26 PM

+3 Boost

I don't know if GM will hold out long enough. Already, I see more 2007 Camrys than the entire last generation modles, from each year.

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truckmen - 1/7/2007 4:50:02 AM

0 Boost

A reply to Lexusadmirer I am not an economist but it is a fact when America does bad economically Canada feels it too, Just a fact of life unfortunatly.When I worked as an Artist for around 12 years we would always know when America's economy was good or bad! And Americans are the majority of the collectors that can afford and apreciate fine art.I like Toyota better but am eagar to find a reason to buy a chevy.I like Chev's warrantee much better.When Toyota does badly you never hear about it and opposite is true for the chev.

lexusis350 - 1/10/2007 12:08:07 AM

+1 Boost

What?!? On this site, the Toyota recall was a field day for the Lexus-Haters. In fact, you hear more about Toyota's problems than Chevy's because Toyota has a reputation to protect.

huu76 - 1/6/2007 10:14:24 PM

+1 Boost

Carfan,
Nice comeback. You just didn't think in your original post, hence trying to dodge that it's not about China. Well, explain why you ignore all the car plants over here but give the Germans a "get out of jail free" card.

btw, it's "reel" me in.

Rupert,
True, but China has become so dependent on the U.S. market that they can't afford to flood the markets with US dollars. If the dollar crashes, the U.S. economy will tank as oil prices skyrocket and Europe/Japan's economy would collapse since they're dependent on N.America as well (it's hard to export if the U.S. doesn't buy).
In the end, China would be stuck with loads of crap that no one buys, then they'll have domestic strife to deal with (which they hate judging from the Presidents New Year's speech).
China can't even buy up oil stockpiles with U.S. currency right now for fear of weakening the dollar.

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carfan3 - 1/6/2007 10:50:26 PM

+1 Boost

Sorry...did not catch that typo...thanks.

My whole point...before we get way off topic is that all of these large corporations are the same. I live in the good ol' USA...so I naturally root for the home teams. It's ok to armchair quarterback like we all do; however, at the end of the day, unless some of us actually sit in the the board rooms of these auto giants, all of our comments are merely speculation.

I don't give the Germans a "get out of jail free" card. I think what the EU does toward protecting its businesses is also wrong....Airbus vs. Boeing comes to mind.

M53R - 1/7/2007 11:50:49 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

this is y this man is losing his pants without knowing.
Somebody has to wake him up and tell him " welcome to the real world, where GM is eating $H@%# and toyota is gaining. God this guy needs help....

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rocker - 1/7/2007 1:57:39 PM

+1 Boost

All US car companies have the same issue. Under the thumb of the unions for decaeds. Let other countries car companies try and dig out from that. And by year end sales for US only Toyota has over 1.5 million car gap to close before they catch GM. That is a big number even with GM losing 400,000 cars in sales last year vs. 2005.

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huu76 - 1/7/2007 2:55:50 PM

+1 Boost

True, there is a gap. But Toyota could have done the German thing and built their cars elsewhere.

Instead, they build them here.

Perhaps the UAW/CAW will learn to be less greedy when their ranks are cut to 25% of what they were.

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Lexus - 1/8/2007 1:05:50 AM

+1 Boost

This has nothing to do with racist or Pearl Harbor, it all about comfort, better design and realability my friend. American use to make really decent vechicle, people star buying Japanese vechicle is because you get more bang for your bucks, better design and realibility.

Lexus

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Lexus - 1/8/2007 1:11:33 AM

+1 Boost

correction, it "start"

If the American car company want their own people to buy their car, make better, more realible cars, than they will sales more.

Lexus

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