Toyota President Indicates Downfall Began 15 Years Ago

Toyota President Indicates Downfall Began 15 Years Ago
Toyota's quality crisis is exposing -- and exacerbating -- a long-simmering internal feud. The battle pits the founding Toyoda family against a group of professional managers, each blaming the other for the carmaker's woes.

Behind the scenes in recent weeks, the skirmishing has grown intense. President Akio Toyoda, the 53-year-old grandson of the founder, has tried to push out one of the non-family executives: his predecessor as president, Katsuaki Watanabe, now vice-chairman.

Not long after the company made one of its massive safety recalls in mid-January, Mr Toyoda suggested to Mr Watanabe, through an intermediary, that the former president leave the auto giant and instead run a Toyota affiliate, according to an executive who says he was told about the move by Mr Toyoda.





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LexSucksLexSucks - 4/16/2010 11:51:48 AM
-8 Boost
What a crock of Crap!! Toyota always have, and always will be, the builders of the best cars in the world.


Agent009Agent009 - 4/16/2010 12:25:35 PM
+2 Boost
Lexsucks - Face it they have been in decline since the mid 90's. They REALLY took a downturn after 2005 or so. Quality took a back seat to profit during that time, and the consumer was secondary.


pepito66pepito66 - 4/16/2010 12:54:01 PM
+4 Boost
Toyota was probably the best selling car but no longer hold that position........all of this happens when you lie to customers for a long time , and they live all of this years because customers believe on them BUT NOT ANYMORE......that's all. They have to pay now for all the damage created....


Agent009Agent009 - 4/16/2010 1:48:04 PM
0 Boost
pepito66- That's what happens when a company loses its vision and takes the fork down the wrong road.


WillisWillis - 4/16/2010 2:41:59 PM
+3 Boost
LexSucks is being sarcastic.


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 4/16/2010 12:12:11 PM
+3 Boost
not surprising in the least. I wonder what the fanboys will say?


LuvMyLexusLuvMyLexus - 4/16/2010 1:04:16 PM
+2 Boost
If Lexus has hit bottom there's only way to go and that is up.

I just hope Toyota and Lexus don't put fake chrome hood air inlets like Buick does on every car.


upwardsupwards - 4/16/2010 1:37:52 PM
+3 Boost
Deflection is a dead art


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 4/16/2010 2:57:24 PM
0 Boost
lol cause fake gold plating is so much better.


LexSucksLexSucks - 4/16/2010 5:03:17 PM
+2 Boost
"lol cause fake gold plating is so much better."

- Still deflection. The subject of this thread is about Toyota, not Buick. Whatever makes you happy I guess.


TopGearTopGear - 4/16/2010 7:53:30 PM
+1 Boost
It took him 15 years to know that. so easy to point finger at each other.
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