TOYOTA and its Presence in the USA

sdj

sdj

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At Daytona this weekend I came across some stats about TOYOTA that I post here now to give a perspective as to how Americanized they have become after operating in the USA for 58 years. In case you do not know it, all manufacturers use components from all over the world in final assembly of product. I am a fan of no particular brand of vehicle, but, I have read a lot of things as to TOYOTA not being an American made item, this states otherwise.

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Lots of American jobs right here.

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ToyYoda said:
"BUT...BUT...ALL THE MONEY GOES BACK TO JAPAN!!!!!!" :p
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LOL, I love that line. Companies like Toyota and Honda have provided Americans with hundreds of thousands of jobs directly and indirectly and have given people all sorts of reliable things from lawnmower engines, outboard engines, motorcycles, cars and trucks.

My own experience with Toyota has been very good from the dynamite little 20r 4 cylinder engine up to the Tundra. I don't care what a person drives as they are free to spend their dough on whatever vehicle suits them and they will get no grief from me. I know people who have had very good ownership experiences from just about all manufacturers and more power to them. In my case Toyota, Honda and Nissan have led to far less expensive ownership experiences and have been far more reliable and long lasting vehicles.
 
The US trade deficit with Japan is multiple billions. Currency manipulation by Japan costs many jobs. It's certainly better that a Tundra is built in America than if it was built elsewhere, but let's not pretend it is good for the US economy long term. I'm a libertarian--I support everyone buying whatever vehicle they please. But the economic benefits of keeping the profits within our borders will add up to more jobs long-term than whatever number of people Toyota currently employs here.
 
Fair enough ... But you're only talking net profit ... what of the gross? Of every dollar spent on a car, which company keeps the most money on this side of the pond? Shouldn't be too hard to find out.
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
LOL, I love that line. Companies like Toyota and Honda have provided Americans with hundreds of thousands of jobs directly and indirectly and have given people all sorts of reliable things from lawnmower engines, outboard engines, motorcycles, cars and trucks.

My own experience with Toyota has been very good from the dynamite little 20r 4 cylinder engine up to the Tundra. I don't care what a person drives as they are free to spend their dough on whatever vehicle suits them and they will get no grief from me. I know people who have had very good ownership experiences from just about all manufacturers and more power to them. In my case Toyota, Honda and Nissan have led to far less expensive ownership experiences and have been far more reliable and long lasting vehicles.
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Competition is a good thing. American cars are a lot better than they used to be thanks to the presence of foreign competitors. This forces the Big 3 to step up their game. I remember the days when an American car was ready for the scrap heap when it hit 100,000 miles, now it's not uncommon for one to run to 200,000 miles and beyond. The Big 3 have to try harder when there are 20 or so foreign competitors than they'd have to if they were just competing with each other.
 
The issue here has always been union v. non-union labor. Period. I cringe when Toyota goes to the "Built in America" line because it picks the union scab, and pisses people off more. Toyota will never be as American as Chevy and Ford, and I really wish they would stop trying. They are what they are, and the domestics are what they are. Bottom line for me....Build a great product, build loyalty, and everybody will be okay.
 
Never understood the obsession with car manufacturers. Toyota people are even worse than Chevy/Ford diehards. I think they develop a strange complex constantly vouching for a foreign brand. :D
 
29-4 said:
The US trade deficit with Japan is multiple billions. Currency manipulation by Japan costs many jobs. It's certainly better that a Tundra is built in America than if it was built elsewhere, but let's not pretend it is good for the US economy long term. I'm a libertarian--I support everyone buying whatever vehicle they please. But the economic benefits of keeping the profits within our borders will add up to more jobs long-term than whatever number of people Toyota currently employs here.
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Toyota vehicles manufactured in North America do not contribute to the trade deficit with Japan.

Why is Toyota's presence not good for the US economy in the long term? Does Toyota not invest a portion of profits earned here in new / upgraded US plant and equipment?

Your last sentence makes no sense. Perhaps you'd care to expand on it.
 
ReturnTrip said:
Never understood the obsession with car manufacturers. Toyota people are even worse than Chevy/Ford diehards. I think they develop a strange complex constantly vouching for a foreign brand. :D
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I have a GM bias, and probably always will. My grandpa worked for GM for 36 years, and my parents always bought GM and all of our cars have been extremely good to us. I've always bought GM myself, and my cars have treated me very well.

That being said, I like cars of all different types and manufacturers, regardless of where they are made. I love my Chevys but I'm glad Toyota joined nascar.
 
aunty dive said:
Toyota vehicles manufactured in North America do not contribute to the trade deficit with Japan.

Why is Toyota's presence not good for the US economy in the long term? Does Toyota not invest a portion of profits earned here in new / upgraded US plant and equipment?

Your last sentence makes no sense. Perhaps you'd care to expand on it.
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Well, with hesitation based on the ridicule I've already seen for this statement in this thread, the profits on Toyota vehicles, wherever manufactured, go back to Japan. The labor here in the US is paid, of course, and that is some economic benefit. But the profit goes to the home country, just as profits on a BMW purchased in the US return to Great Britain. If some of that profit is reinvested here (which assuredly it is) great. But I would stand by the statement that the biggest boon for the American economy is buying a car built by American manufacturer.
 
29-4 said:
Well, with hesitation based on the ridicule I've already seen for this statement in this thread, the profits on Toyota vehicles, wherever manufactured, go back to Japan. The labor here in the US is paid, of course, and that is some economic benefit. But the profit goes to the home country, just as profits on a BMW purchased in the US return to Great Britain. If some of that profit is reinvested here (which assuredly it is) great. But I would stand by the statement that the biggest boon for the American economy is buying a car built by American manufacturer.
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None of us know how much of Toyota's profit earned here (or elsewhere) "goes back to Japan". I'm pretty sure BMW is a German company and again, we don't know what they do with their money. We can speculate.

Regionalism / protectionism, etc. make bad economic policy, irrespective of the bombastic hyperbole that says it doesn't.
 
aunty dive said:
None of us know how much of Toyota's profit earned here (or elsewhere) "goes back to Japan". I'm pretty sure BMW is a German company and again, we don't know what they do with their money. We can speculate.

Regionalism / protectionism, etc. make bad economic policy, irrespective of the bombastic hyperbole that says it doesn't.
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:oops: Embarrassing mistake on BMW that renders me without credibility in this thread. :oops: You guys win.
 
I would rather have ten foreign companies building cars in Canada than have GM and Chrysler getting government handouts so the can invest in expanding to China.

To that person who brought up the trade deficits with Japan, those are American companies who buy all their pieces from China, Japan and any other country that is cheaper. Then put a sticker on it made in America. It isn't the foreign companies, it is the American/Canadian companies that are creating this fiasco. And then they pay very little taxes.

The real problem is the consumer that shops at China's Walmart.
 
ToyYoda said:
GM sells more cars in China than they do in America, I'm assuming those profits come back here?
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Buick will be selling a 100% Chinese SUV at US dealerships this year ... and a goodly chunk of every Caddy comes out of the same factories. The hybrid CT6 will also be a 100% import. Some of the cream might find it's way home, but the difference between profit and MSRP is all lining Chinese pockets, and feeding Chinese children. China has a funny law. Can't find it now, but I read it when GM killed off Pontiac. China only lets you sell stuff in China if you build it there. And they have to own a hunk of the factory in the process.
 
Isn't Toyota technically more American than Chevy and Ford based upon the amount of parts that are manufactured in the US? Not like it matters anyway because the "Japanese" vehicles are much more reliable than any "American" vehicle.
 
aunty dive said:
None of us know how much of Toyota's profit earned here (or elsewhere) "goes back to Japan". I'm pretty sure BMW is a German company and again, we don't know what they do with their money. We can speculate.

Regionalism / protectionism, etc. make bad economic policy, irrespective of the bombastic hyperbole that says it doesn't.
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29-4 said:
:oops: Embarrassing mistake on BMW that renders me without credibility in this thread. :oops: You guys win.
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Come on.

Your lack of credibility in this thread has nothing to do with that simple mistake.
 
29-4 said:
Well, with hesitation based on the ridicule I've already seen for this statement in this thread, the profits on Toyota vehicles, wherever manufactured, go back to Japan. ...
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How come nobody ever uses this argument when an American company moves production out of the US?

"But Nike is headquartered in Oregon! All those shoes made in Third World countries? The profits come back here!"

In most industries, the gross profits are a small percentage of the net material and labor costs, and the auto industry isn't noted for having a relatively large profit margin. Cosmetics; that's where your mark up is.
 
LewTheShoe said:
LOL. He didn't mention it, but you did. And took us dangerously close to Godwin's Law...:eek:
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I think (one) Taco (short of a combo plate) stepped over the line several weeks ago, maybe even before the reboot, and TRL showed him the door.

Godwin's Law? Nobody mentioned Hit--

[bites firmly on tongue, drawing blood]
 
Charlie Spencer said:
I think (one) Taco (short of a combo plate) stepped over the line several weeks ago, maybe even before the reboot, and TRL showed him the door.

Godwin's Law? Nobody mentioned Hit--

[bites firmly on tongue, drawing blood]
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While I am not surprised, he was not a fan of anything Japan.

Since ive been owning cars, Ive owned 7 so far( not counting the wife's car) five were American name plates, 2 where Japanese, and the Japanese ones were hands down better than the five American cars.
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
Regardless of where they're built, the "Japanese" cars are just more reliable.
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RacerrecaR said:
Isn't Toyota technically more American than Chevy and Ford based upon the amount of parts that are manufactured in the US? Not like it matters anyway because the "Japanese" vehicles are much more reliable than any "American" vehicle.
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Since ive been owning cars, Ive owned 7 so far( not counting two of the wife's cars) five were American name plates, 2 were Japanese, and the Japanese ones were hands down better than the five American cars.

Outside of a few American vehicles, I only want to own Japanese cars( if its American or Japanese)

And, a few months ago, driving by one of the Toyota dealerships here, they had a few Tundra's parked in a grass area between the sidewalk and the lot, with very large wording on the side that read " Made In Texas"
 
Charlie Spencer said:
How come nobody ever uses this argument when an American company moves production out of the US?

"But Nike is headquartered in Oregon! All those shoes made in Third World countries? The profits come back here!"

In most industries, the gross profits are a small percentage of the net material and labor costs, and the auto industry isn't noted for having a relatively large profit margin. Cosmetics; that's where your mark up is.
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Because the argument is idiotic. The Profits don't go back to Japan, they go back to the shareholders by raising the stock price and/or paying dividends. Who are the shareholders? Well, anyone who wants to be one and has some cash. You can buy shares on many exchanges across the globe.

The whole concept of American car companies died about 20 years ago. There are only international conglomerates now.
 
^^ He apparently accepted a position as Clyde Elliott's personal valet.

I'm sure that keeps him very busy and accounts for his absence from here. That and the aforementioned leash.
 
kymartin6 said:
Now Dodge/Chrysler is owned by Fiat.......... which is an abomination in and of itself...........
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Definitely took the wind out of the sails in the whole"Detroit Big 3 Revival" thing that happened right before the city went bankrupt.
 
kymartin6 said:
I work in the Agriculture side of Fiat...... and have been associated in some fashion since 1986...... they are the most arrogant bastards I have ever seen........
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Oddly, that makes a lot of sense. I could see it.
 
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