Are The Glory Days Over For Toyota in the US?

Toyota Motor Corp said it is unlikely to recapture its peak market share it held four years ago in the United States, its biggest market, the latest sign the Japanese carmaker is shifting from aggressively expanding sales to improving quality.

Toyota, the third best-selling carmaker in the United States after General Motors Co (GM.N) and Ford Motor Co (F.N), is likely to earn market share of 14 to under 17 percent in the future, Senior Managing Officer Jim Lentz said on Wednesday. Toyota's share for the five months to May was 14.2 percent.

"I think we had some tailwinds that were very, very unique, so I'm not sure if 17 percent is a realistic number," Lentz told reporters in Nagoya, Japan. "But somewhere between today's 14 (percent) and that number, I think we will continue to grow."


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LexSucks - 6/12/2013 1:35:09 PM

-13 Boost

Glory days been over. FR-S isn't enough. Toyota/Hyundia/KIA all are interchangable.

thetruth01 - 6/12/2013 2:24:11 PM

+5 Boost

The 17% was a blip, a brief anomaly as the economy tanked following the huge gas crisis. Course the feds took care of that blip with the witchhunt. But as the market sorted itself out, Toyota was naturally going to fall back below Ford and GM anyway. They can only grow bigger by acquiring more brands. Hell, if they really were concerned about market share, they could have gobbled up one of the Big 3 during the crisis.

hdbu - 6/12/2013 4:17:04 PM

+4 Boost

To see Toyota acquire one of the Big 3... Now that will be a Glorious Day!

7msynthetic - 6/12/2013 3:21:53 PM

+5 Boost

That's because four years ago people were buying cars with other money. Wait a few more years and compare the recent Toyotas/Hyundais/Kias - the Koreans WILL break down.

MrEE - 6/12/2013 7:41:56 PM

+5 Boost

Toyota's are lasting so long it is hurting their new car sales. My 15 year old Toyota looks and runs like new. In Midwest, most others have rust holes before they hit 10 years. Worst are Chrysler, GM, and Nissan.