The Auto Writer

Toyota Plans To Ready US Built Sequoias And Tundras For Export

Toyota has a big problem that rivals what General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler are experiencing, namely a bloated inventory of big trucks and SUVs which they cannot sell stateside. True, gas prices have dropped considerably over the past six weeks, but Toyota won’t be able to sell as many of its Sequoia SUV and Tundra truck as it has the capacity to build. Thus, the two vehicles are being readied for sale outside of the US.

Markets in Latin America and the Middle East are being targeted for the American built trucks, regions of the world which have a proven demand for big US made vehicles including trucks already being sold by America’s Big 3 automakers. The Sequoia is destined primarily for Middle Eastern markets while the Tundra will head to Latin America.

Sequoia exports to the Middle East are predicted to number about 15,000 units annually, while Sequoia exports to Latin America will be quite limited, perhaps just 150 units annually. Tundra exports to Latin America are predicted to number just 1,000 units annually; Toyota hasn’t said whether the Tundra will be offered to customers in the Middle East.

2008 Truck of the Year

With its big vehicles, Toyota has made a rare misstep – attempting to take on the last bastion of American autodom supremacy, but getting caught red-handed like everyone else. Up until the 2008 model year, the Tundra was a small time player, finishing a distant fourth behind trucks from the Big 3.

Toyota anticipated that demand would remain strong for the Tundra, invested hundreds of millions redesigning the truck and opening a new plant in Texas, producing a much more capable model that won Motor Trends’ Truck of the Year award for 2008. When gas prices spiked earlier this year, Tundra sales plummeted forcing the automaker to consolidate protection and keep employees busy with other tasks in a bid to avoid layoffs.

(Source: Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.)