Toyota is considering making a surprise deal with General Motors that could foil the proposed Renault-Nissan-GM alliance, Business Week magazine reported Saturday. Toyota began contemplating the idea after the Renault-Nissan proposal went public. “Toyota has no interest in seeing an alliance like this take place,” an anonymous executive told the magazine.
Last week, GM CEO Rick Wagoner told trade publication Automotive News that Renault-Nissan was not he only conceivable partner for GM. “Could other things arise?” he said. “Sure, they could happen any time, but nothing else I can talk to you about today.”
Business Week says Toyota has “war-gamed” a way to assist GM, and its desire to prevent an alliance with Renault and Nissan could put those plans into action.
07/16, 3:21 PM
posted by:
Renton
Juggernaught?
07/16, 3:46 PM
posted by:
Renton
er…Juggernaut.
07/16, 3:58 PM
posted by:
VDub
O_O holysh!t is that even legal? they would make up like a quarter of the market shares
07/16, 5:10 PM
posted by:
BloodWyn
#3 I don’t think they are talking about an alliance like the proposed Ren-Nis one. I read it like Toyota will help GM (some how) so that they won’t need Ren-Nis… Or am I just plain wrong?
07/16, 5:20 PM
posted by:
Phil
This reminds me of the Imperialism of the late 19th century, when all the European countries were trying to get their own piece of China–a sphere of influence, if you will. Now, it appears that Japanese car companies are trying to get their own piece of GM. I don’t mean that in a bad way or anything; it’s just a good analogy, I think.
07/16, 6:34 PM
posted by:
mike
it’d be closer to 50% of the market share if it were a true alliance. GM has 25% on their own.
07/16, 6:36 PM
posted by:
Jim in LA
phil – right on. though oddly enough, japanese companies are really more multinational now, with the bulk of their sales coming from north american versus the home market. etc.
07/16, 6:59 PM
posted by:
Hrm
I think this makes more sense than a Nissan/Renault alliance. Toyota and GM already operate a co-op in Northern Cali. I just wanna know what effect it’s gonna have on Toyota stock.
07/16, 7:00 PM
posted by:
VDub
GM owns 14.2 percent and toyota owns 13 percent market shares. http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/14/news/companies/gm_nissan_renault/index.htm?cnn=yes
07/16, 7:48 PM
posted by:
Justin
I dont trust Toyota at all!… there planing something that would only help them!… Most likely a way for them to take GM’s #1 spot!.. the Nissan alliance sounds better to me!… with the Nissan alliance they could do battle with toyota and lessen toyota’s influence!
07/16, 8:25 PM
posted by:
pj
lol sound slike the movie Gungho when the japs came and took over the american auto plants o_O
07/16, 9:32 PM
posted by:
Uncle Sam
The Toyota deal, if it were to happen, I think would be better for GM. This whole talk of an “alliance” is just a cover to get Kirk, Carlos & Jerry in command of GM. I hope something happens between GM & Toyota. As a lifelong Toyota basher, I think I’d change my tune real quick if Toyota can keep GM out of the hands of the 3 Stooge’s (Kirk, Carlos & Jerry !). The way this whole deal (Renault-Nissan) came up in the first place was a sneeky way for these guy’s to do business (behind tha backs of GM Mgmt. & the other Board Member’s), when something starts off this way, the distrust is built in from the start. So, GO TOYOTA ! (that’s the first time I’ve ever said that !!)
07/16, 9:51 PM
posted by:
PAUL D.
Interesting perspective #12 but now that you mention it, the pieces really do make sense. A GM/Toyota alliance would be extremely powerful and I can’t see how the smaller guys like Honda/ MItsu or the European brands could match that. Maybe if this happens we’ll see a counter alliance with Ford/Nissan just so the two of THEM could survive a PM/T partnership.
07/16, 11:21 PM
posted by:
Niels
Totally idiotic idea. The way Toyota is behaving, as a company whole, they only want to harm GM. Remember the Chevy Nova.Toyota Corolla ordeal from the 1980s? Pure crap.
07/16, 11:22 PM
posted by:
Chris
Toyota, GM, Ford, Nissan, Renault, Citroen, Peugeot, Fiat, Honda, BMW, MB, and Volkswagen will become best buds and help each other out. The world will turn into a great happy place, and people will enjoy life riding in bright rainbow cars, into eternity and beyond. The future is so bright, sunny and happy!
07/17, 1:42 AM
posted by:
chewy
I really don’t believe this. Wasn’t Toyota’s president talking about rasing prices/sharing technology with GM a while back? But nothing happened.
07/17, 2:18 AM
posted by:
Hrm
#16, I suspect that was partly because GM thought they didn’t need anyone’s help. Especially from their nemesis.
07/17, 3:41 AM
posted by:
Jim
I shall prevail at taking over GM!
07/17, 8:16 AM
posted by:
Anonymous
Gawd – what are the Japanese thinking?! GM will fold on their own. Just let them fall.
j i m
07/17, 9:06 AM
posted by:
Anonymous
Yet another brand that wants to ride GM’s coattails to the top. Amazing.
Toyota and the rest of the imports don’t even belong in this country let alone partner with the greatest company on earth and the only one that should be alive.
Sounds like Toyota is trying to mooch off GM’s technological expertise for their own development. They’ll still play second fiddle to GM because they are unAmerican A-holes
07/17, 9:45 AM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Great. More Asians taking over the country, what’s next?