Toyota launches certified used hybrid program

How do you let everyone know that you’re the hybrid king? By kicking off 2009 with the third-generation version of the most popular hybrid to ever drive planet Earth and by launching a certified used hybrid program. Toyota announced today that it will offer a new Toyota Certified Used Hybrid (TCUH) program that will provide inspection and warranty coverage on certified used Toyota hybrids.

Each certified used Toyota hybrid will come with a 3-month/3,000 mile comprehensive warranty, 7-year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warrant and roadside assistance plan offered on traditional Toyota Certified Used Vehicles (TCUV). Toyota said that the program also brings awareness to a pre-existing eight-year/100,000-mile factory hybrid battery warranty.

The new program also includes 14 additional inspection points beyond the current TCUV 160-point quality assurance inspection. The 174-point Toyota Certified Hybrid inspection includes examination of key hybrid components, such as the hybrid transaxle, control modules and… the battery.

Toyota Certified Used Hybrid Program: Who Needs New Batteries Anyway?

Not impulsive enough to buy a new Toyota Prius, but too scared of the world to buy a used one? Toyota has the certified used car program for you.

Toyota announced today a special version of their Certified Used Vehicle program specially designed for their growing fleet of hybrid vehicles. How is it different from the regular program? Like the existing Toyota certified used programs the cars get a three-month/3,000-mile comprehensive warranty and a seven-year/100,000-mile extended warranty with roadside assistance.

Is there a special warranty for the battery? Nope. The company announced the program "brings added awareness to a pre-existing eight-year/100,000-mile factory hybrid battery warranty." Yes, by getting a certified used hybrid from Toyota you're reminded of the existing warranty — something impossible for a private seller to duplicate unless they can somehow say the words: "this car also has a pre-existing battery warranty."

The only difference, other than the name, is the addition of 14 inspection points involving the examination of hybrid components, which is something you'd sort of hope they've been doing the entire time. Full details in the press release below.

Toyota Introduces Certified Used Hybrid Program

TORRANCE, Calif. (January 20, 2009) – In an effort to attract new buyers to the hybrid market, Toyota today launched the all-new Toyota Certified Used Hybrid (TCUH) program, an extension of the Toyota Certified Used Vehicles (TCUV) brand which provides added inspection and warranty coverage on certified used Toyota hybrids.

“The program is a great way to increase awareness of certified used hybrid vehicles,” said TCUV Marketing Manager, Steve Gallagher. “As more hybrids enter the used vehicle marketplace, Toyota Certified Hybrids offer high-quality options to customers interested in purchasing these fuel-efficient vehicles.”

As the industry’s first dedicated certified pre-owned program for hybrid vehicles, TCUH was designed to drive sales of certified used hybrids while expanding Toyota’s customer base for these types of vehicles.

Customers benefit from additional inspection and warranty coverage on Toyota hybrids within the program. Each vehicle comes with the three-month/3,000-mile comprehensive warranty, seven-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and roadside assistance plan offered on traditional TCUV models. The program also brings added awareness to a pre-existing eight-year/100,000-mile factory hybrid battery warranty. The TCUH quality insurance inspection also includes 14 additional inspection points beyond the current TCUV 160-point quality assurance inspection. This expanded 174-point Toyota Certified Hybrid inspection includes examination of key hybrid components, such as the hybrid transaxle, control modules and battery.

The Toyota Certified program combines the confidence of purchasing a new vehicle with the value of a used vehicle to provide a "like new" ownership experience. Toyota certified used vehicles offer consumers a smart alternative to traditional used car options and give them the peace of mind they seek when purchasing a used vehicle.

[Source: Toyota via KickingTires]

Toyota displaces GM as world's largest automaker

Quick: Who is the world's largest automaker? General Motors or Toyota? Last year, the two brands were in a statistical dead heat after sales for all of 2007 were tallied, and debates raged as to which one of the two global giants had outsold the other. This year, there's no argument. The winner of the 2008 sales crown was Toyota by over 600,000 units (exact figures are due a bit later). This is quite an accomplishment for the Japanese automaker and reinforces the fact that GM's sales have been in decline for the last couple of decades after crushing all competitors and reigning as the worldwide leader in auto sales for 77 years. Still, the mood is hardly one of jubilation at Toyota as the rise to the top has not been without sacrifice. The automaker has lost both money and market share over the last few months, and the outlook for 2009 isn't shaping up to be much better.
[Source: CNN]

Founder's grandson to succeed Watanabe as Toyota President

It's official - there will soon be a Toyoda back at the helm of Toyota. Akio Toyoda, the grandson of company founder Kiichiro Toyoda had been rumored as the likely pick to succeed current president Katsuaki Watanabe, but only now has the company given official word that the torch will be passed this June.
In addition to bringing the company back under family control, Toyoda's ascendancy is important for a number of reasons. Toyoda brings with him both experience (he has been an executive vice president since 2005) and a youthful energy. At age 53, he'll be the youngest president in Toyota history, and he brings with him a resume that includes time in China and a school and work history here in the States.
Toyoda takes over a marque that finds itself in unfamiliar territory, having had its global sales slip by four percent in 2008 in the midst of growing worldwide financial crisis. He is expected to consider more production outside of Japan to avoid the strong yen and pricy local materials, but it is likely that he will look over the viability of every aspect of the business, from marketing to motorsports to product and production.

[Sources: Toyota; Automotive News, sub req'd.]

Toyota beats GM to become the world’s largest automaker

After a really tough 2008, it’s no surprise that General Motors has sold fewer cars than Toyota on a global scale. However that makes Toyota officially the world’s largest automaker for the first time.

GM fell short by 616,000 vehicles announcing that it sold a total of 8.356 million cars and trucks in 2008. Toyota, on the other hand, sold a total of 8.972 million.

Toyota’s sales fell by 4 percent while GM faced an 11 percent drop.

Source: MSNBC

Toyota Officially World's Largest Automaker

Moments ago, GM announced 2008 global auto sales. With 8.35 million vehicles sold, the automaker fell 620,000 short of Toyota's 8.97 million 2008 car and truck sales. Toyota is now officially the world's largest automaker.

Thanks to the global economic Carpocalypse, and despite a growth in sales in the Asia Pacific region of 3%, GM still managed to sell fewer vehicles last year than Toyota. It allows the Japanese automaker to wrest the global sales crown from GM it's held for 77 years. The General has reigned atop the global auto sales pyramid since snatching the crown itself from Henry Ford in 1931.

While many have argued Toyota bested GM last year when the Japanese automaker produced more vehicles than the biggest of the not-so-Big Three in 2007. But not so fast as the General doggedly held on to the title of global auto sales champ. Since the crown's been determined primarily on the metric one finds most important, the true "largest automaker" title's really been up in the air. However, with these new numbers, that last debating point is dead. Toyota is truly now the world's biggest automaker.

Full press release below:

GM Announces 2008 Global Sales of 8.35 Million Vehicles

* GM Asia Pacific sales volume grows 3 percent; Chevrolet sales in China grows 16 percent to nearly 200,000 vehicles; 1.09M vehicles sold in China sets record with 6 percent volume growth
* Third consecutive year of more than 2 million vehicles sold in Europe; Chevrolet sales breakthrough 500,000 mark with record share; Opel sets sales record in Central and Eastern Europe with volume up 13 percent
* GM beats the industry with more than 1.27 million total vehicle sales in Latin America, Africa and Middle East Region led by top-selling Chevrolet Corsa, Celta and Aveo
* GM continues emerging markets leadership with 2008 market share growth in 14 of 26 markets

DETROIT – Record-setting sales performance in GM’s Latin America, Africa and Middle East and Asia Pacific regions, and a third consecutive 2 million vehicles sales performance in Europe during 2008, helped General Motors sell more than 8.35 million vehicles globally last year. GM’s nearly 3 percent growth in both the Asia Pacific and Latin America, Africa and Middle East regions partially offset North America sales that declined 21 percent, and growing pressure in Europe that resulted in 7 percent fewer sales. Compared with 2007, GM’s total sales were down 11 percent, reflecting continuing global economic pressures that include tightening credit, falling commodities prices and lack of GDP growth.

In 2008, GM sold 5.37 million vehicles outside the U.S., accounting for 64 percent of total global sales volume compared with 59 percent a year ago.

In the fourth quarter of 2008, GM sales of 1.70 million vehicles were down 26 percent compared with the same quarter a year ago. Most of that decline was reflected in 379,000 fewer vehicles sold in North America as the market yielded to a crushing lack of consumer confidence, and tightened credit requirements, in the United States.

GM Continues Growth in Emerging Markets

“GM’s 2008 sales performance shows that we are continuing to take advantage of new emerging market opportunities and are meeting customer needs with fuel-efficient products that offer compelling design and great value – such as the award-winning Opel/Vauxhall Insignia in Europe, the Buick Excelle in China and the Corsa in Latin America,” Jonathan Browning, vice president, global sales, service and marketing, said today. “We saw sales volume increases in the key four emerging markets of Brazil (up 10 percent), Russia (up 30 percent), India (up 9 percent), and China (up 6 percent).”

“The challenges in the global financial markets, including credit tightening, the drop in commodity prices, and economic uncertainty continue to negatively impact overall demand for new vehicles,” Browning added. “For the total global industry, we saw about 3.5 million fewer vehicles sold in 2008 than the previous year.” With these market challenges comes significant opportunity and GM is well-positioned with new products either on showroom floors or on the way in the near future.

Chevrolet sales in Asia Pacific grew 14 percent in 2008 compared with a year ago. Chevrolet sales in China (up 16 percent) and India (up 9 percent) powered much of this growth. The Wuling brand continued strong growth in China with sales up 17 percent in 2008 compared with a year ago. The Buick channel is very strong in China with the all-new Regal and soon-to-be-launched LaCrosse. The Chevrolet Cruze and Cadillac SRX also will play important roles in taking advantage of China growth in the months and years ahead.

In the Latin America, Africa and Middle East region – a traditional Chevrolet stronghold – 2008 sales grew 3 percent compared with 2007. Chevrolet accounted for nearly 90 percent of GM’s sales in the region and Brazil remains the second-largest volume market for Chevrolet. Also, GMC, Cadillac and Saab showed impressive annual percentage increases in their sales volume – up 24, 22 and 16 percent, respectively, compared with a year ago. GM sales in the LAAM region beat the expected industry performance, with more than 1.27 million vehicles sold.

A large, relatively young population with a low car-per-capita ratio, hold promise for the market in years to come. Several new Chevrolet product launches are on tap for 2009 including the Cruze, Malibu, Traverse and Camaro.

Chevrolet sales in Europe also contributed to the brand’s solid 2008 results, growing 11 percent and breaking though the 500,000 vehicle mark for the first time. Chevrolet is also performing strongly in emerging markets. It remains the top-selling import brand in Russia. In addition, Opel sales in Russia increased by 49 percent, while Saab increased 68 percent in 2008 compared with a year ago. The Opel Insignia won the prestigious European Car of the Year Award – a first for Opel in 22 years and a strong statement about GM’s global midsize vehicle architecture. Important launches for GM this year in the region include the Opel Insignia Sports Tourer and Astra; Chevrolet Cruze; and the new Saab 9-3X and 9-5.

A highlight of GM’s North America regional performance was the all-new Chevrolet Malibu sedan that achieved the highest percentage gain in annual sales volume (39 percent) of any of the top-20 selling vehicles in the United States. While GM’s total North America vehicle sales volume in 2008 declined 21 percent, there were a number of bright future product opportunities highlighted at the North America International Auto Show in Detroit this month. They included the new Chevrolet Camaro and second-generation Equinox; the second-generation Cadillac SRX and all-new CTS sport wagon; and the Buick LaCrosse.

Sales of Cadillac outside of the United States were supported by strong growth of the brand in Latin America, Africa and Middle East (up 22 percent).

Note: Global sales results are based on preliminary numbers reported and have been rounded.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), one of the world’s largest automakers, was founded in 1908, and today manufactures cars and trucks in 34 countries. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 252,000 people in every major region of the world, and sells and services vehicles in some 140 countries. In 2008, 8.35 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

Note: In this press release and related comments by General Motors management, we use words like "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "forecast," "objective," "plan," "goal" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, representing our current judgment about possible future events. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but actual results may differ materially due to a variety of important factors. Among other items, such factors might include: our ability to comply with the requirements of our credit agreement with the U.S. Department of Treasury; the availability of funding for future loans under that credit agreement; our ability to execute the restructuring plans that we have disclosed, our ability to maintain adequate liquidity and financing sources and an appropriate level of debt; and changes in general economic conditions, market acceptance of our products; shortages of and price increases for fuel; significant changes in the competitive environment and the effect of competition on our markets, including on our pricing policies. GM’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q provide information about these factors, which may be revised or supplemented in future reports to the SEC on Form 10-Q or 8-K.

Toyota to cut Japanese production in half

As the economic slowdown gains steam and people continue to buy fewer cars, manufacturers are hitting the brakes a little harder on production levels. Toyota is shutting down plants in Japan for 11 days, and more closures could come as the company says it will make half the number of cars from February to April as it did last year. That would take Toyota down to 9,000 cars per day as it grapples with ballooning inventory. With the near-term future predicted to be even bleaker and the need to align production with sales, we probably haven't seen the end of factory stoppage announcements.
[Source: Reuters]

Toyota Passes Dodge For Third Place In US Truck Sales

PickupTrucks.com put together a full run-down on pickup truck sales for 2008. The most shocking statistic? Toyota's passed Dodge to become the third largest seller of trucks in the U.S. market.

Our pickup-truck-lovin' buddies at PickupTrucks.com just put together a full run-down on pickup truck sales for 2008. Taking a quick look at it, the most shocking statistic to us is Toyota is now the third largest seller of trucks in the U.S. market. how far down Dodge has dropped in truck sales. Toyota is now the third largest seller of trucks in the U.S. market with a 14.07% sales share. That's not just the Tundra of course, which saw a steep sales decline in the second half of the year, it also counts the Tacoma. Of course, Dodge's numbers also include the Dakota as well as the Ram.

Other than the Toyota shocker, the rest of the numbers seem to be what we expected — Ford's #1, Chevy's #2.

[via PickupTrucks.com]

Tokyo Auto Salon 2009 Review

Well the Tokyo Auto Salon 2009 has come and gone and it completely blew my expectations of the show and trip out of the water. It was 100% worth the 12 hour flight In addition to the 6000+ photos I took (I will be adding a daily dose on MadWhips) of more than 500 rediculously awesome modified cars, I also had the pleasure of meeting some awesome people in the industry!

I have never seen so many people taking photos and video at any car show I have attended (SEMA Show, Essen Motor Show etc..) let alone so many people period at a car show. Not only do the Japanese love their electronics (and flip style mobile phones), they also passionately love their cars and all things motor sport related. I was able to photograph about 98% of the cars at the show, with the exception of the outdoor D1 Professional Drift Grand Prix Series. I am a little disappointed that I missed these Drifting events cause I am sure they are world class drifters who set the bar for the rest of the planets drifting community!

I met Shin Inoue, Sales & Marketing Director of Zele International (Zele GT-R + Zele 370Z) who personally welcomed me to the Tokyo Auto Salon as well as Japan for the first time in my life, Shin also eagerly introduced me to Kris Hunt of GTRBlog.com who is an awesome guy from Australia (and who’s blog I read daily). I was extremely happy and surprised that I finally got to meet him in person! BTW his blog is the leading authority on all things GT-R related, so make sure you check it out!

I also met Norman Tong, President of N1 Concepts Inc. from San Francisco who is going to set me up with his shirt designer in California in order for MadWhips & CarZi to get some sick racing jerseys made, Toe Doe from Thailand of FukDuk Production Co., Ltd (Toe thanks for the couple hundred Yen you lent me, I would have been F’d for the last subway transfer home on Sunday!), Takeshi Matsushita, Sales Promotion Sec. Chief of Wald International (Wald GT-R + Wald Lexus IS F) from Takatsuiki, Osaka, Japan (thanks for taking care of me and clearing people away from your cars so that I could get some sick pictures!).

Finally it was also a pleasure to meet Keisuke Suzuki, Director of LB Performance and Keiichiro Sugita of Liberty Walk Co. Ltd who were also extremely accommodating in allowing me as much time I wanted without people getting in my way at their display booth. They had 3 modified Lamborghini Murcielago LP640’s and a Lamborghini Gallardo, all extremely nicely modified and equipped with air suspensions, definitely one of my top 5 baller displays at the show! Thanks for the warm welcome to Japan and the invite to come checkout your tuning showroom!

The show was located at the Makuhari Messe (bird eye view of the massive Nippon Convention Center above) which is located between Tokyo and the Narita Airport. I had to travel via 3 separate subway transfers (1.5 hours total) from my friends condo in Shibuya to get there. Going to and from the show was by myself and was equally as fun and adventurous as attending the Tokyo Auto Salon!!

View Larger Map

Now here is a little bit of what I observed at this years Tokyo Auto Salon 2009. Unlike the 2008 SEMA Show which was all about the Nissan GT-R, and the 2008 Essen Motor Show which was all about the Volkswagen Scirocco, the Tokyo Auto Salon 2009 was obviously heavily weighted with Japanese cars so obviously there were tonnes of Nissan GT-R’s, Skyline R34’s, Nissan 370Z’s as well there were tonnes of Toyota Legance, Alphard and Velfire minivans, slammed and heavily modified. It is going to take me at least a couple weeks to get all the photos up on MadWhips.com, but if you check back daily you will see at least 20-50 new albums added every day. You can bookmark and check this link daily as it will show the latest albums added: Tokyo Auto Salon 2009 Pictures.

The temperature in Tokyo is cold enough to freeze little puddles during the night and frost up cars early in the morning, however during the day when the sun is out it is absolutely beautiful and warm enough for a t-shirt and light jacket.

The women here are extremely beautiful wearing little to no makeup (fell in love many times since I landed) and their style ranges from conservative school girl to pom pom go go dance attire. It is not uncommon to see girls wearing knee high boots (or socks) with a miniskirt even though it’s pretty damn cold out at this time of year.

Flashy sneakers and boots, tight denim, and colorful slightly puffy jackets are part of the norm here for guys and I absolutely love the somewhat eccentric fashion that I have seen so far.

You are not allowed to talk on your mobile phone while in a subway/train car which is awesome and a treat compared to living in North America where you have to put up with assholes constantly yammering about nothing to nobody. The subways get jam packed especially the lines leading to or out of the Tokyo main station yet politeness between and among all was observed at all times.

Most toilets have heated seats, urinals are really low for 6′2″ guys like me and their toilets in restaurants are sorta like funny urinals built into the floor which you are required to basically squat over. After taking 6000+ photos which amounts to hundreds of free standing squats, I can barely sit down let alone hover my ass over one of these things!

Toyota to kick off new round of incentives to lure buyers

Toyota was riding high in mid-2008 as buyers flocked to its showrooms in search of fuel efficient vehicles, but the second-half economic downturn turned the automaker’s once busy showrooms into ghost towns. Toyota’s latest 0 percent financing campaign did little to stimulate sales, which has the Japanese automaker readying another approach.
Instead of focusing on the financing side, Toyota’s next sales campaign will focus more on incentives and cash back. “The shift that you’ll see in January from December is more consumer cash and less APR and lease support through our dealers,” Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc., told Automotive News.

Despite Toyota’s 0 percent financing sale late last year, the company’s December sales were down 36.7 percent. Truck sales were even further off, with most models posting 50 percent decreases from December 2007. Perhaps most telling of Toyota’s struggles, the once backordered Prius hybrid saw a sales drop of 44 percent in December.

Toyota has yet to announce when the new sale will kick off, but we expect to hear more on the subject in the coming days.

Toyota, Chrysler announce further temporary plant closures

Chrysler and Toyota say they’re trimming production even further in an attempt to reduce unsold inventory sitting on dealer lots. Toyota has announced cuts across the board from its North American plants in the United States and Canada and Chrysler says it’s halting production at five factories North America for one week.
The majority of Toyota’s cuts come from the Princeton, Indiana, plant that assembles the Sienna and Sequoia, as well as the California plant that produces the Corolla and Tacoma. Both factories will be closed for a total of more than three weeks between now and early April. Toyota will also halt production of its 4.7-liter V8 in Alabama for 16 days in March and the first week of April.

Chrysler says it’s extending closures at its Sterling Heights, Michigan (Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger), Belvidere, Illinois (Dodge Caliber and Jeep Patriot and Compass), and Toluca, Mexico (Dodge Journey and Chrysler PT Cruiser), plants for one additional week. The plants will be closed until January 26 “unless otherwise notified,” the automaker said in a news release.

Chrysler also recently announced that its Dodge Viper plant in Detroit and minivan plant in Windsor, Ontario, will be shut down until February 2.

Toyota to Cut More North American Production

Toyota has announced plans to further cut its production in order to bring its inventory levels under control. The automaker wants to reduce its current inventory by half.

“This is a tough environment, and it may continue for a while,” said Jim Wiseman, vice president of external affairs for Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America.

Toyota's Jim Lentz recently told the Automotive News that inventory levels should be in line with demand by May.

Toyota announced plans earlier this month to idle its plants in Japan for 11 days in February and March due to the declining U.S. demand.

Toyota Safety Connect, Lexus Enform Take Aim At GM OnStar With New Service

Toyota's ready to battle GM's OnStar with it's own on-board telematics program appropriately named Safety Connect and Lexus Enform. Of course GM could have avoided this if they'd let Lexus continue to use OnStar.

Toyota Motor Company has recently announced a new in-car proprietary telematics program named Safety Connect for its Toyota models and Enform with Safety Connect for its Lexus luxury brand. The new safety features will slowly make their production debut in select Toyota and Lexus vehicles over the next year. While sharing many similarities with GM’s OnStar system, the Toyota Safety Connect features four main safety and security features: Roadside Assistance, Emergency Assistance Button (SOS), Automatic Collision Notification (ACN) and Stolen Vehicle Location (SVL). These features are designed to allow ToMoCo’s customers to have a semblance of safety and security while on the road they wouldn't ordinarily get without such new technologies as a cell phone or a CB radio.

The Toyota brand’s Safety Connect uses embedded GPS and cellular signals to signal for help if an airbag has been deployed or a severe rear-end collision has been detected. In a case where the system isn’t activated automatically, an occupant of the vehicle can use the Emergency Assistance Button (SOS) to contact emergency services manually. The SOS button can also be used to contact Roadside Assistance in the event of a break down. If the vehicle is ever stolen, once a police report has been filed, the Stolen Vehicle Location feature may be activated to locate the car – think of it as a factory Lo-Jack system.

ToMoCo’s luxury brand, Lexus, receives all of the standard Safety Connect features and adds a few more conveniences to make up the Lexus Enform service. Additional features include Destination Assist and eDestination. Consider these two services as a personal in-car concierge that can help with directions as well as recommend local restaurants and hot spots. When the driver has made a choice the destination is sent to the vehicle’s navigation system. If the vehicle owner wants to plan the route themselves, the eDestination service is accessible from any PC and when planning is complete, it will send the information to the navigation system. All of these features will be accessible though the Lexus Flexible Voice Interface, a casual-speech voice recognition system, scheduled to debut on the 2010 RX model.

Look for the GM OnStar rivaling Safety Connect and Enform services to debut in select models later this year, each with an included one-year subscription.

PRESS RELEASE

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Announces Dual-Brand Telematics Programs: Lexus EnformTM and Safety ConnectTM Available in 2009

LAS VEGAS (January 7, 2009) – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA, Inc. today announced that it will launch its proprietary telematics systems in the year to come. The all-new systems will be available on select models with customized versions for both Lexus and Toyota brands.

"We are proud to introduce these services and advance our relationships with our customers by providing them the features they need to feel safer and more secure while on the road," said Jon Bucci, TMS vice president, Advanced Technology Department. "Our primary focus while developing our services was on three key traits: choice, convenience and control. We feel that our new telematics offerings deliver on these attributes, hitting the mark for what our customers have shown us they will be looking for in their next vehicle purchase."

The Toyota brand will introduce Safety Connect on select Toyota models, helping to bring its drivers an added peace of mind. Lexus will introduce Lexus Enform with Safety Connect, a service built on the foundation of valuable safety and security services with the added layer of more convenience-oriented features and specialized advanced technologies.

New Offerings Built on a Solid Heritage of Quality
With characteristic Toyota vision, sights have been set on bringing Toyota's proprietary telematics products to the U.S. for many years.

"Prior to entering the U.S. market full force, Toyota practiced a deliberate approach to product development based on our experience in Japan, in-depth research and relentless product testing in order to both deliver to customers' expectations and produce systems befitting the Toyota name," said Bucci. "Safety Connect and Lexus Enform are the results of several years of due diligence and dedicated teams working in
partnership with our highly experienced providers."

Safety Connect: A Secure Foundation

Available on both Lexus and Toyota brands, Safety Connect is the cornerstone of Toyota's new telematics offerings and will provide fundamental services to help extend confidence to drivers on the road.

"While a portion of the industry appears to be migrating to reliance upon wireless handheld devices to deliver in-vehicle safety, we've followed our engineering insights and Toyota's G-Book and G-Link roots in Japan," said Bucci. "Based on our experience and research, our core safety and security technology is embedded in the vehicle to help ensure reliability and responsiveness."

As the foundation of Toyota's telematics systems and available on select vehicles,
Safety Connect will include the following four safety and security facets:

Automatic Collision Notification (ACN)

Safety Connect's ACN will help drivers receive the necessary response from emergency teams. In the event of either an airbag deployment or a severe rear-end collision; the response center will be automatically notified via embedded cellular technology and GPS. Once the response center agent receives the vehicle ID and the vehicle's location, the agent can speak with the driver to ascertain the level of emergency. If the driver is unable to communicate, the agent automatically treats the call as an emergency. The response center agent then uses the vehicle's GPS location to determine the nearest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) available to provide emergency support and will offer to stay on the line until emergency assistance arrives.

Stolen Vehicle Location (SVL)

Safety Connect subscribers will be able to rely on an extra level of security in the event that their vehicle is stolen. If this should happen, Safety Connect will assist in tracking the location of the stolen vehicle using the vehicle's GPS. Once a police report has been filed and the owner contacts the Safety Connect call center to report the theft, call center agents will assist local authorities to help recover the vehicle-keeping the owner apprised of the progress.

Emergency Assistance Button (SOS)

All Safety Connect–enabled vehicles will come equipped with an SOS button, with the call center's 24-hour emergency assistance only a press away. When an emergency situation develops, subscribed customers will be able to quickly reach the Safety Connect response center to communicate their emergency. Again using embedded cellular and GPS technology, the agent will assess the situation and dispatch the necessary assistance based on the type of emergency.

Roadside Assistance

When a driver encounters problems on the road, the Safety Connect response center will be available for roadside assistance 24 hours a day via the SOS button. Call center agents will help drivers receive aid for a wide range of needs, such as towing, jump start, flat tire, fuel delivery, etc. With this service, drivers will not need to rely on additional membership organizations for roadside coverage to help them get back on the road.

All Safety Connect calls will be sent directly to Toyota's dedicated, specialized telematics response center operated by ATX Group, a leading provider of global automotive telematics services for over a decade. Drivers can rest even easier with the added level of confidence that comes with having this service as the backbone of Safety Connect's security offerings.

Lexus Enform: Pinnacle of Convenience

Lexus Enform takes Toyota's telematics services to a new level of care with a diverse assortment of offerings ranging from information and convenience capabilities to up-to-the-minute weather reports.
"We specifically steered away from a one-size-fits-all approach," explained Bucci, "recognizing that we have two distinct markets for telematics products and services and catering our offerings to each of our valued customer sets."

The cornerstones of Lexus Enform are two convenience-based services: Destination Assist and eDestination. With these features, Lexus vehicles can become a virtual information tool-giving drivers the ability to send and receive the data they choose and need along the way. Both services also rest on the solid foundation of Toyota's dedicated ATX call center.

Destination Assist

Live-operator assistance with finding destinations will be just the press of a button away with Destination Assist. While either parked or driving, the driver will be able to easily connect to an operator to ask for help finding local points of interest from dining to gas stations, dry cleaners to museums. As an added bonus to Lexus drivers, Zagat's best-in-breed restaurant content will also be available via Destination Assist.
Destination Assist operators will steer drivers to the nearest or preferred destination, giving them either the specific business or address requested or nearby choices if, for example, the call is for a specific type of cuisine but the driver does not know the exact restaurant they would like to visit. Once the driver tells the operator their choice, the destination is sent wirelessly to the vehicle's navigation system.

eDestination

An expedient self-service feature of Lexus Enform is eDestination, which will allow the user to go online, via the Lexus owners' Web site, to select and organize destinations of their choice and then send them wirelessly to their vehicle. From any computer, Lexus Enform-subscribed owners will be able to simply log in to their account and search for destinations by one of three options, point of interest (POI) name, category, or address, in Lexus' POI database-the same nationwide database in the vehicle's navigation system. By entering either a city and state or a Zip code with their search option, they will receive a numbered list of relevant choices all called out on a map screen. The user can then simply select the destination of their choice and send it to a folder-creating a new one or inserting it into one they have already built. When finished making selections and creating folders, the user simply selects "save to vehicle" and their personalized destinations will be available to load into the vehicle's navigation system upon the next start up. Going hand in hand with the quality our drivers have come to expect and rely upon in Lexus vehicles, Lexus Enform drivers will also have easy online access to Zagat-rated restaurants nationwide via eDestination.

eDestination will enable users to build their library of destinations in up to 20 customized folders with up to 10 destinations per folder. This will enable Lexus Enform subscribers to select and send an unprecedented total of 200 personalized destinations to their vehicle. The folder cache will always be present online for users to save or update as they see fit. For example, folders with the addresses of friends, family, or favorite local restaurants can be saved and maintained while new folders can be created for specific occasions-a vacation ("Road Trip to Boston") or business meetings ("LA Biz Travel")-and updated to meet current plans. Wherever Lexus drivers need to go, they will be able to plan trips easily and in advance, and even update from the road, with eDestination.

Flexible Voice Interface

Because Lexus Enform is a navigation-based system, vehicles equipped with navi will automatically include one of Lexus Enform's most functional-and sure to be favorite-systems, the updated voice recognition system currently only available on the MY10 Lexus RX vehicles. This new casual-speech voice recognition system, called voice command, features VoiceBox Technology's award-winning, patented Conversational Voice Search, and allows drivers to speak more flexible, conversational commands for easier access and control.

Voice command software enhances standard voice recognition and functions as a supplementary layer "on top" of the existing voice recognition system, an application not seen before in the automotive world. Without voice command, users must speak commands in a specific order, e.g., "Phone > Dial by Name > Dial Bob." Now this same task can be completed simply by saying, "Call Bob at home." The voice command system also works to control many functions of the audio system, heating and air conditioning, and the navigation system. Commands such as, "Make it cooler," "Let's find XM channel 46," "I want a Japanese restaurant," and "Where's the nearest gas station along my route?" make tasks easier to accomplish, in fewer steps, with more flexible speech, and allow the driver to focus more on the road ahead.

Mobile Audio Casts with Lexus Insider

One thing we know about Lexus drivers is that they appreciate up-to-the-minute information about the world around them. With Lexus Insider, a complimentary service on all Lexus Enform navigation-equipped vehicles, customers will be able to listen to audio broadcasts in their vehicles with the push of a button. A first in the industry, brief
"hot topic" audio programmes, hand selected for our customers, will be sent regularly to vehicles and made available to drivers to enjoy whenever they see fit. Customers who would prefer not to receive Lexus Insider broadcasts will be able to easily opt out of the service. Those customers who do elect to receive them will be able to select whether or not to receive automatic notifications when news is available.

Topics will include vehicle technology insights, with tips on their specific model of Lexus vehicle and its capabilities; updates on Lexus-exclusive regional events; and selections from Lexus magazine lifestyle articles. Additionally, customers will also receive Insider insights into exclusive destinations appealing to Lexus drivers. Lexus drivers alone will benefit from the added convenience of having these broadcast transmissions also include the destination's information provided as a downloadable POI, enabling them to easily save the spot to their navigation.

Because broadcast data transmission to automobiles is necessarily complicated by the unpredictable nature of when, and for how long, vehicles will be powered on, Lexus Insider makes use of innovative technology to optimize delivery. Thus equipped, Lexus Enform vehicles can successfully receive audio casts in spite of disruptions to transmissions-helping to ensure that listeners receive Lexus Insider stories seamlessly and without complications.

XM – Beyond Radio

Lexus Enform vehicles will be factory ready for subscriptions to a variety of innovative XM services. Standard equipment on Lexus vehicles will include available XM satellite radio programming and its available "Best of SIRIUS" content. Additionally, Lexus Enform vehicles will also feature XM NavTraffic® and XM NavWeatherTM services. These XM services will offer three-month trials, after which subscriptions will be required. XM NavTraffic informs the driver of current traffic conditions with real-time traffic displays. When traffic problems are detected, in order to avoid them the navigation system alerts the driver so that the route can be adjusted. XM NavWeather will provide near real-time weather conditions as well as spoken and nav-screen forecasts, both based on official National Weather Service data. Lexus Enform will also provide the platform for XM® Sports and Stocks, a service included with audio programming, which provides in-car personalized updates on customer-selected sports and stocks so drivers can stay connected to their favorite teams and investment data while on the road. Additionally, Lexus Enform's advanced voice command system will be equipped to operate many functions of all XM services, adding a new level of flexibility.

Availability

Safety Connect and Lexus Enform will be delivered on select models beginning in late summer 2009 as embedded, factory-installed hardware that can be activated upon subscription at dealerships. An included one-year trial subscription will be offered for new vehicle purchases. More details on product roll-out will be announced closer to launch.

[via Toyota]

Toyota founder’s grandson to replace CEO by June

Following Toyota’s shock announcement recently that the company is expecting to post a ¥150 billion ($1.7 billion) loss for the year ending March 2009, comes a new report that claims current CEO Katsuaki Watanabe may be replaced by June of this year. The news comes from Japan’s Nikkei daily, which reports that current vice president Akio Toyoda will move into the top spot. Toyoda is the 52 year-old grandson of Toyota's founder Kiichiro Toyoda, and if given the top spot he would be the first member of the family in 14 years to become the company's president.

Segway-Killing Toyota Winglet Enters Production Priced At $3,500

Toyota is putting its sex toy-like Winglet personal transportation device into production, with limited sales beginning this year. For just $3,500 you can look as ridiculous as a Segway owner.

Cars have always been associated with sex — literally in the design of Ferraris and culturally in the importance of back seat mating rituals. It looks like the Winglet, in its attempt to reduce personal transportation to its bare essence, is also dropping any sexual innuendo in favor of barefaced literalness. The Toyota Winglet looks dildo-like.

Just 25 Toyota Winglets are destined for sale in 2009 in a trial run that will include factories, airports and parks. Full scale production is projected to begin in 2010.

The Winglet compares favorably to the Segway not just in its ability to serve as a “personal massager” but in its $3,500 price (Segway: $5,300+) and 22-pound weight (Segway: 105 Lbs +).

Toyota envisions uses ranging from security in public places to speedy inter-office transportation for on-the-go execs. Like the Segway, the Winglet won’t be road-legal in either Japan or the US and most places will ban it from sidewalks, so Toyota forecasts most sales will be to companies with large campuses or to public services with large areas to cover. [MSN Japan via The Scooter Scoop]

Toyota announces telematics service: Safety Connect and Lexus Enform

Toyota Motor Sales has announced a new in-car convenience telematics program for select Toyota and Lexus models that sounds a lot like GM's popular OnStar program. The proprietary system will be dubbed Safety Connect for Toyota buyers and Lexus Enform for ToMoCo's luxury brand. There's a lengthy press release after the jump, but here are the salient points. Safety Connect is the core service and, as its name implies, is designed to give drivers additional peace of mind.
The system features four different safety and security elements: Automatic Collision Notification (ACN), an Emergency Assistance Button (SOS), Stolen Vehicle Location (SVL), and Roadside Assistance. Using embedded cellular and GPS, it can signal help if there's an airbag deployment or a severe rear-end collision. If the system isn't triggered automatically, the Emergency Assistance Button (SOS) can be used to contact the help center manually. If the car is stolen it can be tracked once a police report is filed. The system also includes Roadside Assistance through the SOS button when the driver needs mechanical assistance.
The Lexus Enform service builds on the basic Safety Connect concept and adds convenience features that Lexus owners will undoubtedly appreciate: Destination Assist and eDestination. Destination Assist provides a live operator who can help with directions or suggest destinations like local points of interest, gas stations or even Zagat-rated restaurants. Once the driver makes a choice, the destination can be sent wirelessly to the vehicle's navigation system. If they want to do the planning themselves, eDestination can be accessed from any PC with owners relaying info to the car's sat-nav.
The whole thing will be accessible by voice command through Lexus' casual-speech voice recognition system, the Flexible Voice Interface, currently scheduled to debut on the 2010 RX. Other features will include Mobile Audio Casts with Lexus Insider and XM Radio. Lexus Insider will provide mini programs and news updates sent automatically that can be accessed at the push of a button. Traffic and weather updates will also be available through XM.
Safety Connect and Lexus Enform will start showing up on select models beginning late this summer with included one-year trial subscriptions.

Gallery: Toyota Safety Connect and Lexus Enform

Toyota halting Japanese production for 11 days

The global downturn in car sales is a familiar topic these days, and even the production juggernaut of Toyota is facing unseen declines in demand for its products. To help realign output with that demand, the company has planned to shut down all 12 of its Japanese plants for a total of 11 days in February and March. Toyota's move in Japan echoes similar cutbacks already made by the carmaker in the U.S. as the company struggles to find the right balance of production. A report by the AP reveals that the issue of slow sales isn't just limited to SUVs and pickups.

Toyota plans 11-day plant shutdown in Japan

Toyota execs must think they're living in the Bizarro World. Think about it: operating losses, plunging sales -- these were terms once reserved for its lowly competitors. Not anymore. Now, Toyota's feeling the sting of a down market along with everyone else and is taking steps to try and stop the bleeding. An already-planned 3-day production freeze this month at all of Toyota's Japanese manufacturing plants has now swelled to include 11 more days in February and March. Toyota's hoping to scale back inventories in the face of flagging car sales everywhere. Cue the R.E.M...
[Source: Reuters, AFP]

Toyota to halt production for 11 days

Toyota announced today that it will halt production at its Japanese plants for 11 days in February and March due to a strong decline in U.S. sales that are leading to inventory pile-ups for dealers. Toyota reported a 37 percent loss in December sales in the U.S., making it the sharpest fall in more than a quarter of a century. It even performed worse than its U.S. rivals General Motors and Ford.

“I never expected the crisis to spread this fast and leave this deep a scar,” Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe told reporters in Tokyo.

Rival Honda and Nissan have both announced production output cuts by at least 200,000 vehicles for the fiscal year ending in March. Toyota had previously announced a 3-day production halt for Jan. 2009 at its 12 Japanese plants.

Source: CNNMoney

Toyota working on solar powered car

According to a report in Japan’s Nikkei newspaper, Toyota is busy developing a solar-powered car. The car will use solar panels to charge an electric battery that will run the vehicle. While a portion of the juice comes directly from these solar panels, the other part comes from electricity generated by solar panels on roofs of homes, which sounds more like “any electricity outlet,” because there doesn’t seem to be a huge difference with a simple electric outlet and a plug getting juice from solar cells (in operation at least).
Toyota, does not appear to be in the mood to stop at just that. It is believed that a future model will be powered entirely by solar cells. Now that is something worth praise. In any case, the solar-powered Toyotas aren’t coming to the roads anytime soon so expect a long-long wait. Toyota has not confirmed or denied these rumors yet.

Via: AP/ Jalopnik