I've contemplated on making this post for quite some time, as we all know unlike car makers in Germany, which for the sake of their global branding efforts, tend to produce cars that can be well digested no matter which country you reside on. Take a look at BMW, which now currently produces 1,3,5,6,7 series which then expanded into SUVs spawning X3, X5, X6 with X1 coming up, and of course the 8 series that would come into picture in a few years time, and of course the Z4 which is due to be replaced very soon. How many cars are there in their total lineup? Less than or around 20 considering the limited Z8s, the performance M variants and subsidiary Rolls Royce and Mini.
That's not how the Japanese juggernauts do their thing thou, for them, its just a matter of how to adapt whatever platform or chassis that's available in their parts bin, and create, brand, sell the product in different guises throughout different region. A true testament of localization upon globalization. In Japan, there's almost 2 - 3 new Toyotas launched every year! While RHD countries could enjoy exclusive Japan-only grey imports, the LHD world could only wished so. Anyone of you stateside heard of Will VS? Toyota Verossa? Alphard? Caldina? Well we'll cover some of those very exciting Japan only vehicles in some upcoming posts later on, we'll now bring you all on an exclusive trip for a quick brief of what Toyota is now offering, in different regions and different countries. Be amazed, by how flexible, how shameless they can be at platform sharing, and nameplate creation.(i.e Avensis is a sedan in both Europe and Japan, but Avensis is an MPV in Australia, of which, is the Toyota Ipsum in Japan etc).
Apologies as it's seemingly impossible to do a complete run down on each vehicle with pretty galleries, we could only do so with the names and a small little thumbnail.
And of course, thou Toyota fully owns Daihatsu, and Daihatsu controls the little Malaysian Perodua, and Toyota is also a new major shareholder of Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru), we'll only cover brands that are within Toyota's own operation, namely Lexus, Scion as well. And of all the cars featured, only a handful are available everywhere, the Yaris, Rav4, Land Cruiser, Camry etc.
(ps: I'm quite sure I've left out some in anonymous parts of the world, fill me in should you have any other (non commercial) Toyotas out there that I've missed; and yes, I know the iQ wasn't available yet but soon, same goes the LF-A and I've deliberately missed out on all Lexus Hybrids) Nonetheless, here goes most, if not all that made up the 9 million plus sales every year. Shocking.
Toyota Japan
Toyota Europe
Toyota North America
Toyota Pacific Region
Toyota South East Asia
Scion (USA)
Lexus
2 comments:
Nice post here, thanks! At the first thought, Toyota seems not maximizing economies of scale by having so many, variance of similar platform, or model lineup, especially in the Japanese domestic market.
Nevertheless, I suppose the high demands of each variance/model have enough to generate the reasonable economies of scale though may not as optimized in the case of having fewer essential line-up.
Their economies of scale lies in platform sharing. Adding a bit here, taking out a bit there and walla! a new model. Exactly like how Nokia creates mobile phones now.
Post a Comment
Why just read? Post your comments. Don't be selfish. Cheers!