Automaker Smackdown: Hyundai vs. Toyota

So, you're Hyundai. You badly covet more market share in the US, and your targets are Honda and Toyota. What would be better than to hire a defector from the other team? It's even better when the defector brings along plenty of top-secret information to share.

That's just what engineer Bruce Shibuya did when Hyundai nabbed him from Toyota and appointed him vice president of the Hyundai-Kia North American Quality Center. Little details like non-disclosure agreements must have been lost in the shuffle, as a tipster inside Hyundai alerted Toyota to the blatant theft and disclosure of trade secrets, which of course has led to a lawyer-fest. Shibuya's alleged brazen acts included giving Toyota-branded powerpoint presentations to Hyundai and copying binder upon binder of technical information, all handily marked "do not duplicate", and sending that information on to Hyundai HQ in Korea.

Since Toyota's lawyers arrived on the scene, Shibuya has been terminated and Toyota has yet to file litigation against Hyundai.



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S4cabriofoxone - 11/27/2006 5:26:05 PM

-2 Boost

Interesting. Quite.

mstangpny07 - 11/27/2006 6:03:32 PM

-2 Boost

As a company, Hyundai>Toyota
For their cars, even though Hyundai is getting better every day, like the SantaFe.
So, unfourtuneatly, Toyota > Hyundai.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/27/2006 9:02:47 PM

-3 Boost

As a company...

Toyoota > Honda > Hyundai

As a CAR PRODUCER...

Honda > Hyundai > Toyota

S4cabriofoxone - 11/27/2006 9:03:02 PM

-2 Boost

*Toyota.

Onyx - 11/29/2006 10:44:58 AM

+3 Boost

^ idiot

kart1 - 11/27/2006 10:43:24 PM

+4 Boost

Toyota is best in producing cars and definitely best as a company.

This really sucks for Hyundai, seeming as I started to like them and then they start stealing plans.

Hyundai/Kia Sucks

Lexus - 11/28/2006 1:00:59 AM

+3 Boost

How else can they compete with the like of Toyota, except copying Toyota.

Lexus

Onyx - 11/28/2006 10:53:55 AM

+4 Boost

The dude could have defected with the next-generation-secret-show-whatever car and it would not matter because no one has been able to replicate the success of Toyota. Toyota has even gone so far as invite other auto makers to its plants to see how it is done, and even entered into joint operations with domestic (GM) manufactures, and they still can't replicate the success of Toyota. This guys actions are of no significance...obviously Toyota feels the same way because it has not brought suit.

XYZZ - 11/29/2006 7:45:59 AM

+3 Boost

true.

XYZZ - 12/1/2006 4:04:25 AM

+2 Boost

others have now copied toyota's leading edge Lean Production ("just in time") system.

they still cannot match toyota's level of build quality.