TOYOTA and .............General Motors?

[owen4runner]

DETROIT, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Struggling U.S. automaker General Motors Corp is expected to ask for Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp's help in turning around its business, Kyodo News reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the plan.

GM Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner is considering visiting Japan soon and meeting with Toyota's leadership to discuss the plan, Kyodo said, citing sources.

A GM spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

The Kyodo news report said Toyota was expected to consider quick fixes for the cash-strapped GM, including buying up its assets and helping it secure sufficient business funds.

The executives of the world's two biggest automakers may also discuss an expanded business partnership, including Toyota making fuel-efficient compact cars for GM and providing hybrid-car technologies to the U.S. carmaker, Kyodo said, citing sources.

GM has been in talks with Cerberus Capital Management since September about a merger with Chrysler LLC, the struggling No. 3 U.S. automaker owned by Cerberus.

Link to article

 

[T?@\7]

youve got a PM

 

[Uneek]

Another article I saw, GM is denying the talks. The GM and Chrysler merger could create 25-35k lost jobs, but analysts say if Chrysler is sold off in chunks it could be greater than that.

I think GM should've approached Toyota a long time ago. Toyota has long offered other companies to visit and study their lean manufacturing and management processes.

While GM and Chrysler has been building less than decent vehicles IMO, I do hope they can weather this storm and survive. Hopefully tax payers won't have to bail them out. Competition will only encourage all manufacturers to build better products. I had a Chevy that had lots of problems and dumped it with 42k and a buddy had problems with his Chrysler in the first year that Chrysler bought it back and he paid like $700 for the replacement.

 

[morphius909]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

I switched from Domestic CRAP to Japanese Refinement!

Please Please Toyota Don't do it!

 

[Falls]

Toyota already make the Pontiac Vibe for GM from their Matrix platform.

 

[morphius909]

Yes you are right.

I am not worried about Toyota influencing GM...but the other way around. Can you imagine?

Toyota Life Expectancy before any major problems Pre GM: Decade

Toyota LIfe Exectancy before any major problems post GM: 3 years, 60,000 kms.

HAHA

 

[owen4runner]

T?@\7

You have a PM

 

[rook]

I don't get it. How does Toyota benefit? GM gets advice, relaible economy cars, and hybrid technology and offers Toyota what? One of the national cable news stations is running a "saving GM" feature. Its not on at a very convenient time, but its worth watching. Its hard to believe they would open their doors to a competitor in such a manner .

 

[Uneek]

Toyota already make the Pontiac Vibe for GM from their Matrix platform.

Don't know if the Prism is still made, but that's a Corolla twin.

 

[Uneek]

GM will leading Toyota down the path of lower quality vehicles, nothing to worry about there. Toyota has done that on their own withOUT the help of GM. The only light at the end of the tunnel is they realize this, whether or not they fix it, time will tell.

Don't get me wrong, I do like Toyotas products, but I'm also not going to look the other way with their current quality control issues.

4Runner: driveline clunk, moonroof, seat squeaks/pops--none of which have been corrected. Tundra: small batch of bad camshafts on the 5.7 V8, driveshaft problem, possible frame issue (extreme bed movement over expansion joints)--frame issue is popping up now. Camry: V6 transmission flare--not fixed.

 

[Gromulus]

Toyota and GM

Don't know if the Prism is still made, but that's a Corolla twin.

Yep, GM and Toyota have actually had a collaboration since 1984. NUUMI in California did the Prism/Corolla twins. They currently make the Tacoma, Corolla, and Pontiac Vibe (not sure about the Matirx - Vibe's twin).

Several years ago Toyota offered to license their hybrid technology to GM. GM turned them down since they were riding high with SUV sales and had no foresight.

Toyota has also offered to share their quality systems with GM many times in the past, with no response. Having worked in a supplier capacity for both I could tell you many stories. Both are very arrogant in their own ways but Toyota's work has paid off and GM.......well.


Like many things in life, you reap what you sow.

 

[Falls]

Don't know if the Prism is still made, but that's a Corolla twin.

Yes that was another one. There have been quite a few.

 

[Falls]

I've hears that GM has a electric car coming out , can't remember the name , but it's like an all their egg's in this basket thing.

I could not believe when they came out with the new 900 platform in 07 to be their saving grace. What a dumb move and extremely bad timing .

They want in on the bailout too.

 

[owen4runner]

I've hears that GM has a electric car coming out , can't remember the name , but it's like an all their egg's in this basket thing.

It's called the 2011 Chevy VOLT.
Link

 

[Uneek]

Just a couple random thoughts and responses.

The Matrix is made in Ontario, Canada if memory serves me.

I believe the Nissan Altima Hybrid and maybe Ford Escape Hybrid uses Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD). One of them down to the screen and display graphics of what's going on/where power is coming from is identical to the Prius.

The old (I want to say Cavalier) coupe is sold badged a Toyota in Japan.

GM's had quite a few partnerships and twins with other manufacturers as well. I think the Geo Metro was a Suzuki Swift twin, as well as the Geo Tracker (don't remember the Suzuki twin's name). The old S10/Sonoma trucks was the Isuzu Hombre.

If GM gets bailed out by the government, I hope there are no golden parachutes (severance packages, bonuses, etc.) given to the execs. The only true execs are the ones that take home a $1 for their salary and everything else is stock options/grants. Those exces have an obligation to make sure their company performs well. The rest like those at AIG and the financial markets could careless if they ran their companies into the ground.

 

[JungleJim]

The Matrix is made in Ontario, Canada if memory serves me.

You are correct. But the Pontiac Vibe version is produced at the joint GM/Toyota plant in Fremont, California.

The vehicles are mechanically identical. Both Toyota and GM vehicles have been produced in the Fremont facility.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

This kind of thing's been going on for a long time - and will continue to occur.

My ex-wife had a Corolla that was made in Canada, but a neighbor had one that was made in Fremont, CA; and we only knew that by looking at the door tag and the VIN plate. (A '2' indicates Canadian origin.) It's identical twin was the Geo/Chevy Prizm - essentially the same car with different badging and trim items. GM & Toyota have had a psudeo-partership for years with regard to a few models.

I used to have a 1990 Sentra that was built in Tennessee, while my current 2002 Sentra was hecho en Mexico. The upcoming Nissan Titan (full-size truck) is going to be a re-badged Dodge Ram that is to be assembled in Mexico as well.

Ford & Mazda have done this too. Remember the old Ford Courier pickup? Yep - a rebadged Mazda! Now, the Mazda B-Series truck is a Ford Ranger knockoff made mostly in Edison, New Jersey; much in the tradition of the Isuzu Hombre built side by side with the Chevy S-10/Colorado & GMC S-15/Canyon models.

Ford gets the "Powerstroke" diesel engines from Navistar/International, Dodge installs a Cummins diesel in the heavy-duty Dodge Ram and GMC/Chevy sources the "Duramax" diesel from Isuzu.

Honda used to sell a Passport SUV back in the 1990s, and it was just a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo. Remember those? My old 1981 Plymouth Champ was made by Mitsubishi, as was the similar Dodge Colt. There was even a Mitsubishi Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Sapporo back in the day - and they were actually fairly decent vehicles.

I predict we're going to see more of this in the future as companies do what they can do survive in an increasingly competitive environment. The line between a 'domestic' and an 'import' will continue to blur.

 

[Uneek]

Since the Passport was mentioned, the Acura SLX was a rebadged Isuzu Trooper. The Isuzu Oasis was a first generation Honda Odyssey. I don't think Honda has partnership with Isuzu anymore.

If the next gen Titan is a Dodge Ram, does it mean Cerberus sold Chrysler to Renault/Nissan and GM-Chrysler merger is off the table?

The Dodge Talons and Stealth were Mitsubishi Eclipses (4-cyl and 4-cyl turbo, before the V6 generation) and 3000GT. Maybe I have Dodge twins' names wrong.

I saw a chart once that linked manufacturers to each other. Pretty much every company has some association with another. Almost like a 6-degrees of seperation amongst each other.

 

[T?@\7]

The line between a 'domestic' and an 'import' will continue to blur.

Which is a BUMMER!
As a former Yota owner and current Ford owner, Im sure you can attest to the higher quality of a japanese made vehicle! Im kidding with you Jeff Kleb, but in all seriousness I want TOYOTA to stay as Japanese as much as possible..

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Since the Passport was mentioned, the Acura SLX was a rebadged Isuzu Trooper. The Isuzu Oasis was a first generation Honda Odyssey. I don't think Honda has partnership with Isuzu anymore.

Yeah, I remember the "old" Odyssey -- which sort of resembled a small bus. LOL! Maybe that was the point/counterpoint of Isuzu building the Passport for Honda.

If the next gen Titan is a Dodge Ram, does it mean Cerberus sold Chrysler to Renault/Nissan and GM-Chrysler merger is off the table?

Not sure if it is a done deal; but that is what I read in one of my car magazines. Perhaps building it in Mexico is the best way to reduce costs, huh?

The Dodge Talons and Stealth were Mitsubishi Eclipses (4-cyl and 4-cyl turbo, before the V6 generation) and 3000GT. Maybe I have Dodge twins' names wrong.

There was the Eagle Talon, the Dodge Daytona and the Plymouth Laser (I believe) -- all built upon the Mitsubishi Eclipse platform. I remember how wild a car the all-wheel-drive Talon was back in the mid-1990s. There were also the Mitsubishi 3000 and Dodge Stealth twins, but I think they were on a larger body.

My stepdad had a 1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR6 that was all-wheel-drive. Not a bad car, quite fast but too quirky for me. He traded it for a 1995 or 1996 BMW M3 coupe.

I saw a chart once that linked manufacturers to each other. Pretty much every company has some association with another. Almost like a 6-degrees of seperation amongst each other.

True dat!
:awais: