Not Your Parents' Toyota

An interesting read on CBC News: Toyota recalls 7.4 million vehicles for faulty window switch.

Toyota Rav4

Bad news again for Toyota Motor Corporation!  They must recall 7.43 million vehicles worldwide over a faulty power-window switch.  That includes approximately 240,000 vehicles in Canada alone.  Models that are affected are those from 2005 - 2010 such as the Camry, Yaris, Corolla, RAV4, Tundra, Highlander and Matrix.  So if your parents or a family member have one of those vehicles, you should remind them to contact their local dealer. However, the article states that owners of these vehicles can expect a notification in the mail sometime in October (though better to be proactive). Fortunately, there have been no reports of accident or injury resulting from this defect.

So how is this significant from an international business perspective?  It's quite simple actually.  Japan has historically (since WWII) been one of the world's top auto-making nations.  Toyota is the largest automaker in Japan.  Toyota has always had a reputation of pristine quality.  When I think of Toyota, I think of my father - a retired mechanic (and Italian FOB).  He knows his cars and always swore by his 1989 Toyota Camry which he kept in PRISTINE condition...and I mean pristine! As children, we were not allowed to eat, drink or even CHEW gum in this thing! If we disobeyed, "the belt" would come off...haha just kidding!  He took care of this thing so well to the point that he's had multiple,random people come up to him an offer to buy this car. (No deal of course).  Though my father has always had two or more cars at any given time (thus less wear and tear on one specific vehicle), he STILL has his Toyota and it still runs fantastic.  This has previously been the reputation of this manufacturer.  Unfortunately, it's hard to envision that same quality prevalent today.  Toyota has had numerous recalls in the past few years.  Lower quality will mean lower international sales.  This of course has many implications, specifically in the countries and towns where Toyota's manufacturing plants exist.  Toyota has a lot of foreign investment tied up internationally.  For example, Toyota has plants in Southern Ontario in Cambridge and Woodstock.  A large percentage of residents (thousands) are employed at these plants - their success and existence fuel the town and their withdrawal would certainly be devastating.  So far, Toyota is still considered one of the world's top automakers, but several more gaffes could change that.

I need a new car.  Maybe I'll cross Toyota off the list and maybe look at another Japanese maker, Mitsubishi!  (Actually, I just love the song in this famous commercial...brings back memories! Haha)

The full video to the song Days Go By - by Dirty Vegas is here for those who are a fan of b-boy dance moves.

- Mr. L