Toyota, World’s Biggest Automaker

Despite the ups and downs of the past year, Toyota is still the world’s biggest automaker, announced Toyota.

Photo via Flickr user James LeVeque

“Being number one in term of sales is not important for us,” Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco told AFP. “Our objective is to become number one with the customer, in terms of service and customer satisfaction.”

In North American, Toyota production was up 18 percent last year.

But what about the safey-concerns splashed in headlines around the country?

Toyota has now added four extra weeks to new vehicle testing and the decision-making process is faster thanks to regional officers to oversee quality control. These new safety steps will test the cars in ways the owner’s manual did not consider, reports Tire Business.

With things looking more and more optimistic for Toyota, the brand has a brand new commercial rolling out today. Take a look here:

In a press release from Toyota, 2010 was looked at as a positive next step for the company:

“The challenges presented by the economic downturn and our recalls made Toyota an even stronger company,” said Tetsuo Agata, president and COO of TEMA. “By retaining our team members and continually improving during the worst of times, we are well positioned for 2011 and beyond. We thank all team members and our hundreds of suppliers for their tireless efforts.”

Get behind the wheel of a new Toyota today at Victory Toyota Scion and see for yourself what makes Toyota the biggest automaker in the world.

Toyota and NFL Clash Over ‘Helmets’

Surely you’ve seen the TV-ad with a concerned mother whose son plays football… Loud crashing sounds are featured and lines are drawn surrounding the impact of a tackle at football practice.

The commercial spotlights the way Toyota is sharing their collision research with scientists researching football concussions. Victory Toyota thought the ad was pretty neat, showing the great things Toyota technology is doing for communities.

So why is this news?

Well, turns out the NFL was not very happy with the message the commercial was sending (maybe the dangers of concussions in professional football is still a sensitive subject?). Since its original airing in November, the ad has been edited to a mother concerned about her son ‘playing sports’–eliminating the focus on football, and the scene with the helmets colliding has been completely removed, reports the New York Times.

This commercial was one part of Toyota’s “Ideas for Good” campaign which showed different ways car-safety research could help advance other fields. The New York Times report said “the tackle in the Toyota ad is not perfectly clear but resembles a typical runner and tackler making relatively routine, though dangerous, contact.”

Maybe concussions do apply to other sports, but for the NFL to bully Toyota into changing the ad so they could hold onto a better public image and the support of football watchers and parents who support their children playing football, that just shows how influential the League is.

Want to see the original video, without the NFL’s changes? Check it out below:

Either way, the ad change doesn’t mean that Toyota is no longer sharing their safety research with other fields. Toyota still is pursuing Ideas for Good– like how to use car ventilation technology to ventilate medical tents after a natural disaster, see the video below:

And for your own research on Toyota, come on over to our Seaside showroom and test drive your own Toyota today!

Toyota Needs You to Decide the Proper Plural of Prius

Are you wild about words? Consider yourself a grammar guru? Well, Toyota is looking for you!

Right now, Toyota is asking the community to help them decide what the proper plural of Prius should be. We at VictoryToyota are still debating amongst ourselves. Everyone has to agree by the summer, because that’s when the Prius V is coming available!

The V in Prius V stands for Versatility and has 50% more cargo space than the original Prius.

“With a balance between outstanding spaciousness, refined style, and smooth aerodynamics, Prius v has a low 0.29 coefficient of drag, which does not inhibit the vehicle’s convenient packaging. It is a new vehicle designed from the ground up, with a shape that evolved from Prius rather than being an elongated version.”

And the Prius V is only the beginnning, the Toyota family will be rolling out new models through  2012: Hello, Prius C and Plug-in Prius.
Cast your Vote for the proper plural of Pruis at the Toyota website.

And check out the YouTube video Toyota created below… but don’t tell us we didn’t warn you– the song is catchy!

What’s the most common plural of Prius you hear or use? Share with us in the comment space below or on our Facebook or Twitter.

Toyota not sullied after challenging year; optimistic about 2011

Even in a year that challenged the brand, Toyota is still taking home impressive awards and sales numbers are at least comparable to last year. And like most people this time of year, Toyota is making New Year’s Resolutions.

“I am taking the company back to basics … We are putting our customers, and the values on which our company was founded, front and center.” – Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota Motor Corporation in a December 20, 2010 press release.

So far, things are going well. Most recently, Toyota’s Camry has won the best-selling car for 2010 and Toyota is also the best selling retail brand for the year. And did we mention Toyota’s Lexus is also the best-selling luxury marque?

Toyota faced challenges in 2010, but maintains strong image

Still, we won’t ignore the elephant in the room. We can hear the murmurings: Wasn’t 2010 full of negative attention towards Toyota with recalls and investigations making headlines? How is it possible that Toyota is still the best-selling brand with the best-selling car in the United States?

“Thanks to our customers’ enduring confidence in the quality and reliability of our vehicles, Toyota remained the best-selling retail brand for the third consecutive year, Camry was again the best-selling car in America for the ninth straight year and Lexus retained its place as the best-selling luxury brand for the eleventh year in a row,” said Don Esmond, senior vice president of automotive operations, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. “We are truly grateful for the strong loyalty our customers showed the Toyota brand in 2010, and we look forward to a successful year in 2011.”

Through 2010, Toyota sold 1,763,595 units of cars and the Scion Division reported December sales at 3,956 units. Toyota hybrids are doing really well too (and not solely because of James Cameron: see our past blog) Toyota Division posted December sales of 17,819 hybrids, up 29.1 percent, and year-end sales of 162,931 units.

But VictoryToyota wants to put all of these numbers aside for a moment because we want to hear from you! You, our readers, customers, friends, and followers!

How much was your view of Toyota was influenced by the news of recalls? Did you buy other brands over Toyota? Did you take advantage of our sales incentives? Or are you holding out for the new Prius family?

We want to share the comments you send us in upcoming blogs and on our Facebook. Drop us a note in the comment box below or share with us on Twitter or Facebook.

Toyota Makes Holiday Shopping Easier!

Toyota is moving you forward with new technology for the holidays. Toyota Mobile is available to anyone with a web-enabled mobile device, and now the carmaker is offering a way to make shopping for Toyota vehicles easier.

You can get the Toyota Shopping Tool Application on your Android, BlackBerry, Apple iPhone or other web-enabled devices.

Launched in October, it features mLot, a mobile tool that allows you to scan VIN (vehicle identification) numbers to get information about certain new vehicles. The app allows you to shop and get information about new vehicles anywhere, anytime.

With mLot, you just take a picture of the VIN number of a Toyota or type in the number to pull up the latest info and request a quote. On your mobile device, you can view features and 360-degree views. The app also allows you to find the dealership nearest you and compare prices.

Check out the Toyota Shopping Tool App on your mobile device, and then head to Facebook or Twitter to let us know what you think!

Happy Holidays to the cast of the blockbuster hit Avatar!

That’s what Avatar director, James Cameron, is saying with gifts of Toyotas to each of the major actors in the movie. He and producer John Landau reportedly ordered 11 Toyota Prius to thank the cast members.

Cameron and Landau wanted to thank the actors for the performances that lead record-breaking earnings and DVD sales. The duo reportedly chose the Prius as an eco-friendly gesture.

The movie, starring Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver and Zoe Saldana, among many others, grossed more than $2 billion, beating out Cameron’s other hit, Titanic.

Cameron is also expected to come out with a 3D version of Titanic soon, according to RealBollywood.com We’ll see if Kate Winslet and Leo DiCaprio can land new Toyotas for their performances too!

Are you getting a new Prius or another Toyota vehicle for the holidays? Let us know what you think of Cameron’s gifts here or on our Facebook or Twitter pages!

Toyota’s “Ideas for Good”

Last month, Toyota Motor Corp. launched an initiative to gather ideas from consumers on how to improve the world through technologies that Toyota is already developing. The initiative is supported and driven by a problem-solving company called InnoCentive.

The new initiative, dubbed “Ideas for Good,” allows the public to learn more about five important new Toyota technologies. These include:

• T.H.U.M.S. – Total Human Model for Safety
• Solar Powered Ventilation System
• Hybrid Synergy DriveÒ
• Advanced Parking Guidance System
• Touch Tracer

You can see more and view videos about each one at https://www.yourideasforgood.com/technology.

Once you have an understanding of the technology, you can share an idea that would harness that technology and could potentially improve vehicles produced by Toyota.

As an incentive to participate, the winner with the best idea from each of the technologies will be awarded the choice of a 2011 Prius, Venza or Highlander Hybrid.

Aside from providing original ideas, everyone can view submissions by other people and give their support by sharing the idea on Facebook or Twitter, or clicking the “Add your support” button below each idea.

InnoCentive will help evaluate the ideas and narrow the submissions to be considered by a panel. The winning ideas will be announced by May 2011, according to MarketWire.com.

Leave a comment below or head to our Facebook page or Twitter to let us know what you think!

Toyota Extending 0% Auto Loans

Photo courtesy of Automobilesreview.com

Those still hoping to take advantage of Toyota’s zero-percent auto loan incentives will have the rest of the month of December to do so.

Toyota vehicles purchased or leased in December, including Prius, Yaris, Corolla, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Matrix, Highlander Hybrid and Tundra, will qualify for the zero-percent loan incentives. You can also get $1500 cash back on the 2010 Yaris.

Those looking to qualify for the incentives with need a credit score of approximately 720, according to Autoloandaily.com.

Scion has also extended incentives through December along with three-year lease offerings on the xD, xB and tC.

The Toyota Camry and Corolla are still part of the “Sign and Drive” event with $0 due at signing through December.

These great deals are sticking around for now, but they won’t be here forever! Come to Victory Toyota Scion of Seaside, Calif., to find your December deal today!

Visit our website for more info, and then head to our Facebook and/or Twitter to let us know what you think of the December incentives for Toyota and Scion vehicles!

Disclaimer:

*0%APR FOR 60 MONTHS ALL REDUCED APRs AND MONEY FACTORS ARE APPLICABLE FOR TIER 1+, 1, 2 AND 3 ONLY ON APPROVED CREDIT. ALWAYS REFER TO TFS PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR COMPLETE DETAILS OF LEASE AND APR PROGRAMS. CUSTOMER CASH IS PROVIDED BY THE DEALER. SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS. OFFERS EXPIRE 1/3/11.

Toyota Developing Battery-powered Cars

Toyota is playing it safe at the Los Angeles Auto Show with the revelation of the electric RAV4, the product of the partnership with Tesla Motors.

Photo courtesy of Google Images

Playing it safe in the short-run that is. The automaker also started buzz this year about a 2012 concept car that will most likely make an appearance at the Detroit Auto Show in 2011.

Dubbed the Toyota iQ, the new take on the 2010 vehicle will be super-compact and battery-powered. The details of the FT-EV or Future Toyota Electric Vehicle were originally unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in January.

Check out the video of the FT-EV iQ here:

Toyota will use iheartradio in 2011 vehicles

Beginning in 2011, Toyota will become the first automaker to incorporate Clear Channel Radio’s iheartradio platform in some of its vehicles. Toyota made the official announcement on Monday.

According to a statement on the Clear Channel website, the integration will bring 750 of “America’s favorite radio stations” to select Toyota vehicles.

The announcement came after it was determined that the automaker sold more that 1.77 million Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles in 2009.

John Hohan, president and CEO of Clear Channel Radio, said this move is part of an effort to “enhance the driving experience.”

“Our iheartradio service is a perfect fit for the car, offering literally hundreds of radio stations and dozens of programming genres to choose from – whether that is your hometown favorite you grew up with, a station in the city you are driving in, or a category of music or information that engages you,” he said. “You’ll be able to have your favorite entertainment, nationally or locally, with real time traffic updates.”

It has not been specified which vehicles will have the application. According to the Wall Street Journal, more details will be released at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2011.