The recent slump in the U.S. SUV and trucks markets has Toyota considering a move that has only been rarely seen by the Japanese automaker: exporting U.S.-made vehicles to other global markets.
According to Steve St. Angelo, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky Inc., Toyota is strongly considering exporting the U.S.-made Tundra pickup truck and Sequoia SUV to other global markets. No specific countries or regions have been earmarked for the U.S.-made vehicles, but St. Angelo hinted that there was sufficient demand in some overseas markets.
Toyota idled production of both vehicles in the U.S. on August 8th, with production expected to fire back up in mid-November, according to Automotive News. Tundra sales have fallen off more than 15 percent this year, while the Sequoia has actually bucked the SUV downturn to post a 32.8 percent sales gain through July.
08/11, 2:04 PM
posted by:
yic
most probably sell them to FAGS in the gulf..motherF***ers have their gas cheaper then water
08/11, 2:40 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Gulf countries, Venezuela and a few other South American countries, not to mention Australians need full-size trucks, and these could catch on in China and Russia. There is also some foreseeable use in Africa.
08/11, 3:19 PM
posted by:
ktulu
that’s smart
08/11, 4:08 PM
posted by:
brassmonkey
I had lasagna for lunch. Mmmmm.
08/11, 4:22 PM
posted by:
shaver
Toyota has those guys in El Paso working for cheaper then 1115 mom at prom. It makes sense to utilize the cheapest labor outside of a Vietnam sweatshop.
08/11, 6:51 PM
posted by:
DLB_84
Why should America have the right to export vehicles when times are tough, yet limit imports with the union’s attitude ‘If we can build it here, why should we import it?’
It’s this attitude that limits developement of vehicles including the Holden Monaro/Pontiac G8 Coupe, because unless GM-Holden (Australia) can export considerable numbers to the US, the program is financially unviable, and everyone misses out.
And why would the rest of the world want America’s oversize ugly trucks? You don’t think that everywhere else is feeling the squeeze from high fuel prices?