Expert Opinions on Toyota

Dr. Mike Smitka is one of the world-renowned experts on the Japanese automotive business. I met him through David Ruggles who shares the rights to their AutosAndEconomics blog on Google Blogger.

Check out Smitka's latest take on Toyta and let me know what you think!

Something's Not Right

After Toyota's dramatic decision to halt sales on its eight biggest selling models, it announced yesterday that it would begin selling again - provided dealers have enough parts to repair existing customers vehicles first.

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100205/RETAIL07/100209917/1290

Surely this is a smart decision for the manufacturer who has blundered its PR management heretofore.

However, a voice in the back of my mind is wondering how a postage-stamp sized metal shim is going to truly fix this problem.

Personally, I've used shims to shore up non-moving things like cabinets, dressers, etc... But an accelerator is a moving part, in a vibrating car that bumps its way down the road.

Am I wrong, or does this seem like the little dutch boy trying to plug the dike with his fingers?

NHTSA Flexes Its Muscle

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recently stepped up its investigations of Ford, Toyota and Honda while seemingly leaving GM and Chrysler alone.

At this point, one cannot say whether this has anything to do with the federal government's new ownership stake in Chrysler and GM but it certainly begs scrutiny.