Tundra had a tough month, but Toyota's not concerned

Tundra had a tough month, but Toyota's not concerned

Mark Rechtin Automotive News February 21, 2008 - 12:01 am ET

LOS ANGELES - Sales of the Tundra fell short of expectations in January, but Toyota is not worried about meeting its annual objective for the full-size pickup.

Last year, the Tundra's better sales months were in the 18,000 to 22,000 range. But January's mark of 12,073 was well below that. On an annualized basis, that came to a 185,000-unit clip. That's well below the 200,000-plus mark Toyota has set for 2008.

" I learned from (former Toyota boss) Bob McCurry to never make long-term decisions based on January and February business," said Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A." We're not pushing the panic button."

January is a slow month for Toyota trucks, usually representing about 6.5 percent of the annual sales mark, Lentz said in an interview. He added that February sales are looking " pretty good."

" We have plenty of time to recover from 185,000 up to 200,000. The first half of 2008, especially in pickup, is going to be more challenging. We're comfortable with where we are," Lentz said.

Toyota will not pile on the incentives in reaction to a slow January, Lentz said, adding that, " Typically we follow Detroit (in launching incentives), we don't lead."

Reply to
Ed White
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IMO with transmission rough shifts problems and some cam shafts breaking on a new truck, the owners need to be concerned. ;)

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Reply to
johngdole

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Did you actually read beyond the bullet points on the link you posted?

Reply to
B A R R Y

Toyota was dumping thousands of Tundra's at the Manheim Auto Auction the last three months of 2007, for as low as 24K, to meet their goal for the year. On the east cost the Tundra was offered with a $7,000 discount as well.

They were also dumping Camry Solara's on the rental fleets for $3,000 under wholesale, with no minimum period in service provision, like domestics require, helping maintain Camry sales over Accord, as the number one car brand in the US ;)

Reply to
Mike hunt

Face it, the Tundra is an also ran in the competition for sales of full size trucks. At best they have 5% of the truck market while Dodge sales are in the upper twenties and both GM and Ford are well in to the thirties

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Reply to
Mike hunt

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