Toyota Starts First Layoffs At Texas Tundra Plant

In NYC where everything seems to be under construction I have yet to see a Tundra on a work site.

bye bye Tundra we hardly knew ya :-(

Now what will all the suckers that bought that truck do? :-o

They will continue to enjoy the truck as they have from the beginning. It's not like when they slow down production the trucks mysteriously disappear or that service will no longer be available. Then again, logic is REALLY not your strong point is it?

43LE,

These trucks(the few sold) spent more time in service than on the road. Total disaster!

back up your claim, star.

As usual, Star makes a brilliant comment not based on reason.

http://www.lemonauto.com/complaints/toyota/toyota_tundra.htm

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/toyota_tundra_engine.html

http://www.leftlanenews.com/reliability-report-honda-bumps-toyota-from-top-spot-domestics-still-lag-behind-imports.html

http://www.leftlanenews.com/tundra-problems-bring-shame-to-toyota.html

http://www.automotivedigest.com/view_art.asp?articlesID=23347

and other endless complains in Toyota forums.

The above links does not mean that the Tundra spends more time in the shop than on the road.

What do you need, a documentary? You got to be kidding..

Look, I can also pull up tons of articles about any car manufacturer and their problems too. Even the ones you love, not that I love the Tundra. Your hate is really distasteful. Sucks to be you.

I seriosly doubt Tundra has better interior. have been sitting in both cars, Tundra's interior is decent for a trunk, but doesn't come close to BMW. however, beauty is in the eyes of beholders.

The Tundra has one of Toyota's weakest interiors. Ugly design and dubious materials quality. Actually, the domestic trucks have far nicer cabins than the Tundra.

MichaelTaylor- I thought you married your cousin?

His cousin, who also happens to be his sister/neice. Okay that wasn't nice but I though it was funny.

beauty is more like in the eyes of the beer holder when it comes to the tundra

You mean "eyes of tthe beer holder when it comes to ANY truck".

Sometimes that applies to a select woman or two that stay till the bar closes hoping someone with beer goggles will take her home.

If this truck was an economical hybrid with off road abitities they would have to hire more employees to keep up with demand! Unfortunatly that is not the case.

Contractors who usually buy these trucks opted to postpone their purchase of a new one and use their existing trucks longer due to bad business. Thats all it is.

You must be referring to America because in Canada trades people are in high demand.I also think that most people that need a truck for construction don't fool around and just buy a one ton. As for why they are not selling, how about the gas prices! OUCH!

slowed tundra sales are being offset somewhat by more TACOMA sales.

the tacoma remains the BEST midsize truck. it is also much preferred over tundra for offroad use.

after seeing the work ethics of toyota, I've failed to see why I should get one over a frontier. and another note, not everyone uses it to go off-roading. I see more 2wd tacomas than 4wd.

I heard this many times.

Hey evilm nice comment, why the hell would anyone buy one of the pieces of crap from the GM plant. That is why they are closing the doors.

Just bad timing. The Tundra is a fine truck but Chevy/GMC make a more fuel efficient trucks. In all it is a bad era for large trucks and SUVs.

slowed tundra sales are being offset somewhat by more TACOMA sales.

the tacoma remains the BEST midsize truck. it is also much preferred over tundra for offroad use. in 4x2 4-banger guise, it is THE MOST ECONOMICAL TRUCK. (friend of mine gets >30 mpg with his '08.)

all the toyota haters laughed when it took several generations before the tundra got truly full size.
joke's on them now, as more and more truck buyers move down to mid-size.

the long established superiority of the tacoma means toyota will spank all competitors in this segment, further carrying the ball forward, of tundra conquest sales.

Biiiiiggggg difference between 'laying off' and not needing your contractors. If you have a company that pays a toner guy annually to handle your toner needs and times get rough, you're going to drop your toner guy and have an employee fill the hole.

In 40+ years Toyota has NEVER laid off an employee, and they have not yet. This article is very disingenuous and plays to the media 'Dooms-Day' mentality that we, as a society, feed on.

Toyota employs in their plant, on the average, approximately, 70% 'Team Members' and 30% contracting labor. The contractors provide everything from assembly line work to janitorial services. In lean times, they will dismiss their contractors, people that are not employed by Toyota, and have their full-time Team Members fill the hole. I think this is a very commendable business practice. It is impossible to 'Lay-Off' someone who doesn't work for you.

I worked for a Toyota production plant for four years as a 'Temporary' employee. I tried for four years to become a Team Member. There were many aspects that didn't go to my favor in that venture, but I always respected Toyota's philosophy of their employees. From give-a-ways for JD Power's awards to the fact that there was an entire group dedicated to 'Team-Member Berevement' that followed an employee's personal loss for years after the fact with cards and Christmas ornaments. They even followed this for myself, even as a temporary employee, when they really didn't have to.

For the last 5 years, I have provided technical solutions and support for Toyota North America. I've seen many ways they can improve. I've seen many ways they excel in the industry. I've had nights that I've laid awake, frustrated by their systems. During all of this, I've known that they keep their Team Member first and foremost in their considerations, and I can't help but to respect that.

I think Toyota is doing the best they can in these hard times, like all of us. I also think that Toyota has a much better track record than any American union plant. They make an excellent product, they stand by it and the people they depend on.

Are their vehicles Flawless? No. Can they improve? Yes. Everyone one of can improve in some way. When you want to talk about how no one's buying Tundras or you don't see them, just think of the last time you heard of a Toyota plant being shut-down do to cut backs and 'Union Agreements'.