Toyota discovers how Americans buy trucks

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Toyota discovers how Americans buy trucks

Posted Apr 25th 2007 8:34AM by Jonathon Ramsey

Toyota's learning that in the case of the Tundra, American buyers won't just pick from the selection of trucks the dealer has left. It's a role reversal for the automaker used to people accepting whatever Camry they can get.

Former VP of Marketing Jim Farley said Tundra buyers "have a build-to-order mentality that we are not used to at Toyota." Whereas a Ford truck dealer often has an inventory that looks like the factory shipping yard, or has a dealer nearby who does, Toyota doesn't keep nearly as much inventory on hand. But truck buyers want what they want, and they don't want to pay for it until they see it. Toyota and its dealers are having to adjust. The company is using a vehicle pool, swapping Tundras between regions, and letting dealers modify orders. But as Toyota gets to know more of the American car buyer, it will find out just how many hurdles domestic makers often have to jump through to make a sale. It's not easy being number one -- just ask GM.





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Heres somthing for you.
Best Selling Trucks: April

1. 2008 Ford F-Series
April 2008 Sales: 44,813
Change vs. April 2007: -27.0%

2. 2008 Chevrolet Silverado
April 2008 Sales: 37,231
Change vs. April 2007: -30.5%

3. 2008 Dodge Ram
April 2008 Sales: 24,206
Change vs. April 2007: -29.1%

4. 2008 Toyota Tacoma
April 2008 Sales: 15,587
Change vs. April 2007: -2.6%

5. 2008 Toyota Tundra
April 2008 Sales: 13,350
Change vs. April 2007: -13.2%

Who's #1??  Ford must be happy to see everyone losing sleep worring about how to overthrow them!  Long live the Ford!  

Get your facts straight!