Posted on 01/21/2007 6:57:00 PM PST by Lunatic Fringe
TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Toyota Motor Co is developing a radically different carmaking process that will drastically cut costs across the entire chain of production, President Katsuaki Watanabe said in an interview with the Financial Times.
'The focus is on low-cost technology,' Watanabe said. 'Everything from design to production methods will be radically changed and we are thinking of a really ultra-low-cost way of designing, using ultra-low-cost materials, even developing new materials if necessary.'
Watanabe said the company will review each step in the production process to lower costs for a new model and then to apply the lessons across its line-up.
Asked about the price of a car produced via the new process Watanabe said the company has a rough target of being 'at least' cheaper than the Renault Logan (currently $9,300).
Watanabe also denied media speculation that Toyota (nyse: TM - news - people ) is poised to strike a cooperation agreement with Ford, saying no specifics have been discussed.
IOW, the UAW is not invited.
I'll still buy a Chevy or GMC, been lucky with all my trucks.
That reminds me of my tag line.
They had their shot.
Remove all the steel.
You buy a big crate and a 1000-page assembly manual.
In Engrish...
Yeah. I remember those kits...
I'm sure that the people in Toyota's Engineering Department are shaking their heads and dumping their Toyota stock.
Well that is why so many of American car makers left because of ridiculus demands from unions. They should not blame the big three but unions for taking jobs out of the country.
The fat margins are in the high end stuff.
Time/motion, kanban, manufacturing engineering. RM sourcing, QC, site location, distribution traffic logistics...
It's amazing that so few people here haven't a clue.
Probably the same people who laughed at Honda when they sold their first cars here 35 years ago.
Ford and GM are selling off or closing product lines, and the Japs are laughing at us.
You need to hand it to the Japanese. They learned their lessons well.
Demming showed them how to pursue quality, now they're stuffing it in our ear.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Toyota "iGo"?? Sounds like an Apple infringement suit to me.
I'll buy it if it isn't the size of a roller skate on wheels.
I hate cars that have tires the width of a roll of toilet paper.
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