Toyota plans 11-day plant shutdown in Japan

Toyota execs must think they're living in the Bizarro World. Think about it: operating losses, plunging sales -- these were terms once reserved for its lowly competitors. Not anymore. Now, Toyota's feeling the sting of a down market along with everyone else and is taking steps to try and stop the bleeding. An already-planned 3-day production freeze this month at all of Toyota's Japanese manufacturing plants has now swelled to include 11 more days in February and March. Toyota's hoping to scale back inventories in the face of flagging car sales everywhere.

[ Via: AFP ]
[ Tag: 11 days, 11Days, japan, manufacturing freeze, ManufacturingFreeze, plant shutdown, PlantShutdown, toyota ]

Toyota introduces noise-canceling tech on Crown hybrid

Toyota's Crown Hybrid gets brownie points for good gas mileage, but it's apparently a troublemaker in the motor noise department. Instead of merely adding insulation to the bulkhead, Toyota engineered an Active Noise Control system to reduce engine noise inside the cabin.
The contraption uses three microphones on the interior of the car to detect engine noise. Based on the frequencies they detect, one speaker in each of the front doors and a woofer on the rear shelf create antiphase signals to cancel out the noise. The canceling is set up to occur at passenger head level, and does not interfere with the music system or your own talking.
The Crown Hybrid, released this year in Japan, uses a slightly modified version of the hybrid system from the Lexus GS. Active Noise Control reduces cabin noise from the engine by about five to eight dB, and is permanently on. It's probably not out of the question that the Active Noise Control will make the jump to other Toyota products, and perhaps even Lexus models once they figure out how to put solid gold connectors on it.

[ Via: Gizmag ]
[ Tag: active noise control, ActiveNoiseControl, crown, crown hybrid, CrownHybrid, lexus, technology, toyota, toyota crown, toyota crown hybrid, toyota crown hybrid ..., ToyotaCrown, ToyotaCrownHybrid, ToyotaCrownHybrid... ]

Toyota Camry hybrid lead engineer died from Karoshi (overwork)

Lending a bit of credence to recent allegations made by The National Labor Committee regarding workers right abuses by Toyota is the recent death of a lead engineer on the Camry hybrid project. Although the man died back in 2006, the Japanese Health Ministry has just now ruled that the man died of karoshi, which is a Japanese word meaning death from overwork. This ruling will allow his family to receive benefits from his ex-employer. The 45-year old man is survived by a daughter and his wife, who recalls her husband working long eighty-hour work weeks, along with frequent nights and weekends. Just prior to his death, he was working on shipping logistics related to the Detroit Auto Show, a trip he missed by just one day. Toyota responded to the ruling by saying that it would monitor its workers health more closely. Thanks for the tip, Ledwinka!


[ Via: AP via Yahoo ]
[ Tag: camry hybrid, CamryHybrid, karoshi, overwork, overworked, toyota, worker rights, WorkerRights, workers rights, WorkersRights ]

Buy Toyota badges... from GM

A long, long time ago -- 1996 to be exact -- Toyota decided to brand engineer a GM vehicle for the Japanese domestic market. The vehicle they chose: the Chevrolet Cavalier. They even called it the Toyota Cavalier, and wanted to move 20,000 of them per year in Japan. They put them in dealer showrooms next to JDM cars, and, well... people didn't really buy them. By 2000, the Toyota Cavalier was mort.
And while their loss is not exactly your gain, it might mean you can have some fun with rabbits and hats. GM made Toyota Cavalier parts, including Toyota badges, for the car, and has boxes of the stuff at its warehouse in Lansing, Michigan. If you can get a parts manager to fulfill your order -- overseas-only parts are normally red-flagged for U.S. domestic use due to DOT issues -- then you can get a Toyota badge wrapped in official GM packaging. Cue the Ripley's Believe It or Not theme music...

[ Via: Automobile ]
[ Tag: badges, cavalier, chevrolet cavalier, ChevroletCavalier, chevy cavalier, ChevyCavalier, gm, gm badges, gm parts, GmBadges, GmParts, jdm, jdm parts, JdmParts, toyota, toyota badges, toyota cavalier, ToyotaBadges, ToyotaCavalier ]

Japan's automakers focus on weight loss, one ounce at a time

Automakers across the globe are in a frenzy to produce highly efficient, fuel saving vehicles that remain relatively inexpensive, yet still offering the modern conveniences and safety features consumers have grown to expect. While development on advanced drivetrains is going strong at almost every automaker, Japan's big four (Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Mazda) realize that performance and efficiency gains aren't the exclusive purview of what's under the hood. The hood itself is part of equation.
Automotive News sat down with various heads of research and development at Japan's largest automakers and found that lighter cars are a top priority to increase fuel economy and reduce carbon emissions. The use of lightweight materials, the reduction of overall size and the development of new engineering and design methods are all contributing to Japan's dramatic weight loss solution.

Nissan has already announced plans to reduce vehicle weight by 15 percent by 2015. Mazda is aiming to cut 220 pounds from its vehicles beginning in 2011. Toyota is hoping to shed ten percent of its mid-size vehicle's weight by the mid-2010s and although Honda hasn't released a specific target for weight savings, the automaker considers it a top priority.

Toyota wants to reduce the Corolla's curb weight by 30 percent when the next generation sedan arrives in 2015 and its been reported that the new engine in the 2010 Prius, due out next year, will be 17 percent lighter and will use a battery pack that's half the weight of the current model.

All of Japan's automakers concede that reducing vehicle weight is a serious challenge. While steel prices have risen, they still don't warrant the extensive use of exotic materials like aluminum, magnesium and carbon fiber. But the re-engineering of parts -- everything from body panels to A/C units -- is helping to achieve the goal, along with new manufacturing methods that are saving materials, cutting costs and increasing efficiency.

[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
[ Tag: ]

Toyota considering price hikes in the future

While high gas prices have had less of an effect on Japanese automakers than their American counterparts, the soaring price of commodities like steel have stung just as badly. Toyota is considering raising the prices of its vehicles in response to those higher commodity prices, at least in its home market. The Toyota elite will make a decision after pouring over April-June sales data and 2nd quarter production costs. The news comes only days after Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn suggested that Nissan would raise its prices in Japan if a market leader decided to do the same. Toyota executives did not mention raising the price of its own cars and trucks here in the States, but add rising inflation and a weak dollar to high steel prices and the move seems very likely.

[ Via: Reuters ]
[ Tag: Japan, Price Hikes, PriceHikes, Toyota ]

Toyota gets attacked for worker rights abuses

The top is a tough place to be. Just ask Toyota, which is now facing charges of worker right abuses, including the use of sweat shops and human trafficking. As we've reported before, Japan even has a word for being overworked to death: karoshi. Toyota plants are not immune to this stress-related disease, as workers at its plants have indeed suffered death due to working too hard. These facts have caught the attention of The National Labor Committee, which has an entire report worked up that alleges Toyota over-works and under-pays its Japanese employees and has ties to various unsavory Dictators. It's also been well established that Toyota does not want its American workforce unionized.
The report is being directly targeted at Prius-driving celebrities who see Toyota as the shining green beacon in a world of pollution-spewing car companies. Whether or not this report has all its facts straight, if famous Toyota supporters in Hollywood react to these allegations, Toyota could indeed have a public relations disaster on its hands.

[ Via: World Car Fans ]
[ Tag: sweat shop, sweat shops, sweatshop, sweatshops, toyota, worker rights, WorkerRights, workers rights, workers unions, WorkersRights, WorkersUnions ]

Subaru to stop making Kei Cars

Last week's announcement that Toyota wants to raise its stake in Subaru's parent company Fuji Heavy Industries looked to have no down side. Subaru gets $300 million with which to build a new factory, Toyota gets greater access to FHI's high tech batteries for hybrids, and both get to build the affordable RWD/AWD coupe that we're all waiting for.But the bean counters in Toyota City have noticed that Subaru's kei car division spends a fortune on developing quirky micro cars such as the supercharged Vivio that Colin McRae campaigned in his first rally (above), the worlds smallest four-seat convertible (below) and the fabulous R2D2. The trouble is, profit margins on such marvels of engineering are wafer thin, and that is not the Toyota way. So, come the next decade, Subaru will only sell OEM kei cars made by another member of the Toyota family, Daihatsu.Most analysts think this this is a good idea, but this one ain't so sure. Eighteen years ago I bought a rear-engined rear-wheel-drive Subaru Sambar. It was such a hoot to drive that I traded up to a Rex, then an RX-R, then a WRX and I now drive a Forester STI. In all likelyhood, my next car will be an Impreza STI. Will rebadged Daihatsus garner such brand loyalty from young buyers in 2010?

[ Via: Autoblog (Subaru) ]
[ Tag: daihatsu, k cars, KCars, kei cars, KeiCars, subaru, toyota ]

Subaru Exiga heading to production, teaser leaks out

We received word from a little birdie last week that Subaru was gearing up to release its brand-new Exiga into journalist's hands in Japan. Coincidentally (or not), a teaser shot of Subaru's new pseudo-CUV popped up on the NASIOC forum over the weekend and it's clear from the darkened profile that many of the elements from the show car have migrated over to the production model.
The Exiga, which appeared at last year's Tokyo Motor Show as a lightly veiled concept, will likely form the basis for the new Outback, slotting in between the Legacy and the Tribeca CUV. However, it's doubtful that when the Exiga (or Outback) makes the trek across the Pacific it will be sporting seven full seats. Its closest competitor here in the States is the forthcoming Toyota Venza, which aims to define a new segment between wagon and crossover, but in reality, both vehicles own their inspiration to the AMC Eagle, the original wagon on stilts.

[ Via: Straightline ]
[ Tag: breaking, crossover, cuv, exiga, subaru, subaru exiga, SubaruExiga, suv, toyota, toyota venza, ToyotaVenza, venza ]

Subaru RWD coupe will be sold worldwide, Toyota version only in Japan

Inside Line is reporting that the new, RWD coupe being developed by Subaru and Toyota will only be sold as a Subaru in markets outside of Japan, while the Toyota version will remain exclusive to the Land of the Rising Sun. The report goes on to say that the coupe will be based off the Subaru Impreza (despite Toyota/Subaru's own press release saying that it's an "all-new" platform) and that power will be provided by a naturally aspirated, 2.0-liter boxer engine producing 220 hp at 6,500 rpm.
Toyota and Subaru are using the Integra Type-R as the performance benchmark for the new coupe, with a 103-inch wheelbase, a 2+2 seating layout and a curb weight of 2,866 pounds. As reported before, the coupe will debut in 2011 and pricing is expected to begin just south of $20,000.

[ Via: Inside Line ]
[ Tag: boxer, coupe, japan, subaru, toyota ]

Toyota and Matsushita building new battery plants in Japan

If Toyota has any chance of meeting its stated goal of selling a million hybrids per year within the next decade, it's going to need lots and lots of batteries. Along with its partner, Matsushita, Toyota already has plants in operation to build the necessary nickel metal hydride battery packs, and one of those plants will be enlarged in order to meet capacity requirements. Two additional plants will also be built in Japan, one of which will begin production of the newer lithium ion batteries which are likely to be installed in future Lexus hybrids and Prius sedans. Toyota's full investment in these three battery plants is said to be roughly 20 billion yen, which is equal to 192 million dollars.
Toyota's dominance in the hybrid vehicle market is going to be challenged as fuel prices continue to rise. Recently, along with its partner NEC, Nissan announced that it was building a new plant to build advanced lithium ion packs for electric vehicles and hybrids. Additionally, General Motors is getting closer to releasing its new Volt, which many believe is superior in design over Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive.

[ Via: AFP ]
[ Tag: ]

Toyota boosts volunteer overtime pay

Toyota is the most successful automaker on the planet, with monstrous profits and vehicle sales. A big reason for that success is the Japanese automaker's sterling quality image, and Toyota is boosting volunteer overtime pay at home to keep workers happy. The move to increase OT came in part because of mounting pressure over the Japanese culture of "service overtime", a practice which courts say led to the death of a 30 year old worker due to overwork. Toyota had been paying for only two hours of Quality Control Circle meeting hours per month, even though meetings are more frequent than that.
Toyota has proven to be tough opponent for other automakers, and workers that are willing to sacrifice time free of charge certainly helped. At least now hard-working employees can still be just as dedicated as before, but with a little more money in the paycheck as a reward.

[ Via: Google ]
[ Tag: Japan, Kaisen, Overtime, Toyota ]

Spoiler Alert: Super GT Rd. 3 Results

After previous incarnations of the Nissan GT-R ran away with successive JGTC titles, Japan's GT Association decided to inflict "success ballast" on race winners in an attempt to level the playing field (i.e give Toyota and Honda a chance).As the current GT-R race car is built to 2009 Super GT specifications, the GT-A handed it a weight penalty of 50kgs added right from the start of the season. After winning Round 1 in Suzuka car number 23 had to carry an additional 50kgs at Round 2 in Sugo, which it promptly won anyway. Then thanks to also setting numerous fastest laps and other speeding offenses it was deemed that Benoit Treluyer and Satoshi Motoyama's ride would have to port an massive 200ks (440lbs) of ballast at this weekend's race at Fuji Speedway. That presents a couple of problems. Firstly, where the heck do you safely stow 200kgs of lead? And would the car meet GT-A regulations even if Nissan found a way to do it? The ruling body's compromise was to give the car a 115kg penalty and fit a stifling restrictor to the GT-R's air intake. That knocked 30kph off the GT-R's maximum velocity at the end of Fuji's 1.5km straight, and in the words of Benoit, "Gives us no chance at all."Follow through the jump to find out if he was right, and to find out how Lightning McQueen faired in GT300 after qualifying on pole yesterday.

[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
[ Tag: fjui speed way, FjuiSpeedWay, fuji speed way, FujiSpeedWay, gt-r, lightning mcqueen, LightningMcqueen, nsx, sc-430, super gt, SuperGt ]

Toyota Alphard gets facelift, Vellfire sibling

Six years after Toyota's luxury minivan, the Alphard, hit Japanese (and a few SE Asian) showrooms, the company has given its flagship people mover a facelift, and a twin brother. Noting that one in four family cars in Japan are minivans but that the outgoing Alphard appealed more to grandfathers than fathers, the second-gen model remains conservatively styled, while a meaner, more aggressive-looking stablemate, the Vellfire (above), is hoped to grab the attention of Japanese family men in their 30s who have erstwhile bought Nissan Elgrands and Honda Elysions.
The new Alphard (shown at right) is longer, wider and roomier than the outgoing version. Its slightly lower roofline (by 45mm) is offset by a cabin floor that's been lowered 55 mm, so the new van actually boasts more cabin height even though it's not quite as tall as its predecessor. Power comes from either a 170 PS (167 hp) 2.4L four or a 280 PS (276 hp) 3.5L V6 driving the front wheels. In August, a 4WD variant will join the lineup.
While Toyota's press release acknowledges that the new models are a bit spacier and safer than the old one, it neatly ignores the fact that the Alphard Hybrid has been quietly dropped. This could well be the first such occurrence for the company and given the number of eggs Toyota currently has in the hybrid basket, its no surprise that its PR department is doing its best to gloss over the retirement.
So, how long until Modellista cooks up an ultra-snazzy Royal Lounge package for the new vans?
Hit the jump for a video of the Alphard in action. Thanks for the tip, Paul!

[ Via: Toyota ]
[ Tag: alphard, toyota alphard, toyota alphard hybrid, toyota vellfire, ToyotaAlphard, ToyotaAlphardHybrid, ToyotaVellfire, vellfire ]