The world isn't just what it used to be before. Most consumers in the states don't even have a clue, let alone, know to even maintain their car(even by bringing their car to a dealer). The problem is, theres just no more incentive to make a great car any more, states side, because most consumers in the states are borderline retarded and/or, just think of a car as a transportation device, from A to B. They just don't give a F*** about their car or anyones car, and will knowingly dent other peoples cars. Furthermore, the US has the most retarded car standards in the world. Safety, smog, etc.. Why would they put in all the extra time to comply with the retarded safety/smog standards of the US, when they could build an even better car in another country? FFS, most american's can't even drive, or even know what the hell a manual transmission is. Other countries? Most people KNOW/LEARN how to drive with a stick. On top of that, the US driving standard is COMPLETE BS. You could literally pass the driving test high on drugs.
If you go to Japan, you'll actually have car enthusiasts and/or people who respect cars. They maintain them regularly(due to laws), but know to do so as well and dont have all these stupid laws for smog. It's unlikely you'll see dinged up car, or with a head light out, etc, in Japan or Europe. Hell, Crash rating standards are better in Europe and Asia, but it's not approved by the US government, thus, we can't import them, along with the stupid smog laws we need to comply to. I get that we can't have open downpipes, blowing smog, etc and all, but COME ON. The US gov expect most cars to have the same emissions every time they get smogged, as if they just came out of a factory.
So to answer your question, I honestly don't think it's (as a whole) Toyota's fault at all. Toyota USA is building an adequate car for the majority of Americans who can't maintain their car, regularly drive like idiots causing accidents, and think that a car is just a transportation device. For the rest of the world, Toyota is building what we get here, and also investing on the enthusiast type Toyota's because it's just worth their time and money to do so.
Examples:
Toyota Mark, kind of like our Avalon
Prius
Basically a Yaris
Their GT86? Look at them seats. They're actually bucket seats. And our trim levels from factory? Our Special edition doesn't even compete.
Subaru?
They've got a WRX S4, which beats the living crap out of our WRX. STI? STI Type S? STI S207? S208? They are able to get recarros and the car is just set up so much better from factory.
Look for yourself.
Levorg? They've got a family wagon.
They've got a Levorg STI too.
This could keep going on. But my point being... Toyota USA is just building an adequate car for the majority of American's who don't give a crap about their cars and knowingly bang up peoples cars and aren't enthusiasts. The rest of the world is building that same/similar adequate car for the majority of people, but are also making the vehicles for the people who are actually car enthusiasts.
