Toyota Getting Educated, Changing Tundra's Model Mix

Toyota's foray into the world of full-sized pickups has taught the company several lessons –- the hard way. According to Automotive News, the automaker is trying to adjust the production of certain trim levels to meet market demand; increasing output on some, while reducing others.

The CrewMax pickup, sporting the range-topping 5.7-liter V8, is Toyota's biggest seller, to the point where supply isn't keeping up with demand. What was originally thought to comprise between 50- and 60-percent of sales is, in actuality, closer to 70- to 80-percent. As such, Toyota is in the process of cutting back production of the standard-cab model, equipped with either the V6 or 4.7-liter V8, since sales of the entry-level truck aren't meeting expectations.


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Agent009 - 4/16/2007 9:16:58 AM

+2 Boost

Come into the mix with a new model, and have the most profit laden models become your biggest success.

The big 2.5 should be jealous.

XYZZ - 4/16/2007 10:18:17 AM

+2 Boost

jealous, envious; and the domestic fans ever more resentful and hateful.

wonder if we'll still see references about what a flop this is!

"...Toyota's biggest seller, to the point where supply isn't keeping up with demand."

atomicbri - 4/16/2007 10:28:07 AM

+1 Boost

Wow! I am sure Toyota is excited about this and is quickly adjusting. Wish the Big 2.5 would do the same. Though I have to say I was disappointed in the Tundra when I looked at it at the New York Auto show. It was very plasticy inside and where it sat it was across from a Chevy Silverado so I went back and forth to each one and the interior plastics of the Chevy were BETTER! I was compeletely shocked! I thought the SIlver plastic trim in the Toyota felt awful, and it is used in heavy amounts and the air vents felt as if they would break. The turn knobs felt hollow, the only way I can describe that. I was just overall not impressed. It doesn't look bad in CrewMax form, but I think the Chevy was better "feeling" wise than the Toyota.

jon21 - 4/16/2007 11:13:25 AM

+2 Boost

Good news to hear for the Trundra CrewCab.

rocker - 4/16/2007 11:29:58 AM

+1 Boost

I checked out the "NEW" Tundra at the local dealer and was pleasantly surprised. There was a mega cab 2wd for $41,000. That is insane, which is why I am pleasantly surprised because I am a devout and loyal GM truck buyer. Only diehard Toyota people would buy this, which means that if this represents 70% of models sold that they are mostly Toyota loyalists that are purchasing it. But I guess we need to wait and see. I actually believe that Toyota copied more from the Dodge Ram than from any other pickup or from being totally original. Big front end, enlarged cabin for second row passengers, bigger engine(is that a hemi in your Toyota?). Please remember copying Dodge is not a good thing.

trd1 - 4/16/2007 6:05:48 PM

+1 Boost

i have to agree with you they did kind of copy the ram, almost everything matches, but i still love the crewmax with the 5.7.

rocker - 4/18/2007 3:02:02 PM

+1 Boost

If you want power, get a Chevy, Ford or Dodge with a diesel. All 3 have more than 600 ft/lbs of torque.

XYZZ - 4/21/2007 8:34:39 AM

+1 Boost

until last week, i could ALMOST give some credence to all the claims that the tundra "copied" the Ram.

then i started taking notice of recent tacomas. while there may a 60% resemblance of the tundra's grill to that of the ram (which is VERY much softer/rounder), there is about a 90% resemblance to the TACOMA grill. these escaped general notice because the surrounds were generally body colored. (a FEW tacoma/4Runner models have chrome surrounds.)

take a closer look next time you see a TACOMA's nose. the Tundra borrowed from its little brother, NOT the ram!

(the ONLY thing copied from the Ram, was slathering chrome on the grill. and toyota owes more to Mack and other big rigs than to the now old dodge.)