Posted on 03/10/2010 6:40:52 AM PST by laotzu
The head of the Toyota National Dealer Council today blasted the federal government for using 'taxpayer dollars' to fund incentive campaigns to lure customers away from Toyota, and accused GM of using ‘fear’ in an attempt to lure away its customers, 1200 WOAI news reports.
"As an American citizen, it is tough on my part to pay tax dollars to an entity that can turn around and use those tax dollars to get my fellow American citizens to not do business with me," Paul Atkinson, who owns Atkinson Toyota in Bryan Texas, and is President of the dealer council, tells 1200 WOAI news.
Atkinson says when General Motors was going through bankruptcy last Spring, Toyota behaved in a 'compassionate way,' and did not use GM's uncertain future as a 'lever to steal its customers.' But he says now that GM has been strengthened with taxpayer money, it is using 'low blow tactics' to hurt his business.
"The government owns 60% of General Motors, and these American tax dollars are funding business activity for one company, with the express goal of negatively impacting another company," Atkinson said today.
Atkinson specifically cited GM dealer mailings which he says have been targeted at existing Toyota owners. He called it ‘a nationwide predatory advertising campaign that uses fear in an attempt to lure customers away from Toyota and Lexus dealers.’
"There are some mailing lists which have been given to dealers, and there have been some mailers, in fact, I've seen several of them," he said. "On the outside of the envelope it says 'important Toyota recall information enclosed.' But when you open up that envelope, it is nothing more than an advertisement trying to get you to come trade your Toyota in at a GM store."
Atkinson calls those 'predatory incentives,' which he says should not be allowed to be employed by a company which is majority owned by US taxpayers against another company which employs hundreds of thousands of Americans.
"We will be sending letters out to Senators and Congressmen, as well as (Transportation) Secretary (Ray) LaHood," Atkinson said. "It's really unfair that American citizens have to fund this."
Atkinson also suggested that the recent Congressional hearings and federal government concern over Toyota's accelerator problems may have been sparked less by a desire to protect the public, and more by a desire to protect the federal government's investment in GM.
"There is a list of twenty manufacturers on these recall lists, and Toyota is number 17," he said. "If we're having hearings on number 17, what are they doing about numbers 1 through 16?"
Atkinson said business at Toyota dealerships was down 10% in January and down 8% in February, but the dealerships are standing behind Toyota products.
"Despite all of this, we outsold all of the other manufacturers in February except for one," he said. "Let's get these numbers in perspective. Sure, our sales are down, but we are outselling a lot of other brands."
This is Truck Month. See your local Toyota dealer today.
Ruwaway Prius on the evening news is probably instilling more fear than GM is.
See your local Toyota dealer today.
until they start flying down the road...out of control....then see a FORD dealer!
I visited my local Toyota dealer in Feb. and took delivery of a brand spankin’ new FJ. My 4th Toyota.
Nothing spells safety & quality like 'UAW'. Remember, fellow travelers, look for the union label.
...Hey Toyota!!...STFU
runaway prius instilled fear in me about the idiots driving on our highways.
What a stupid thing to say. Are you a member of UAW?
I like your “About” page. ;-)
That does it. You've convinced me. I'll never buy a Toyota now.
I'm sure he was still able to swerve & miss the baby ducks.
I'll bet than a V-8 Mercedes gets better gas mileage than a Prius at 92mph.
That uncaring polluter is worse than Hitler.
With the full force of the U.S. Government behind them, why not?
I listened to a clip of his 911 call this morning. The emergency operator keeps asking him if he’s tried to shift to neutral. After hemming and hawing a bit he snaps “I’m trying to keep control of the car here.” And all I could think was “Then why the hell are you on a cell phone you moron.”
Thank you.
I’d love to buy something and there are a couple of Fords I like, but I don’t really need a new vehicle. I still haven’t been able to break or wear out my ‘98 4WD Tacoma. I still get compliments for the shiny paint.
...you want to hold some Jap crybaby’s hand be my guest...I don’t.
Just bought my first Toyota Sienna. Last mercury monterrey was a total lemon. I love it and I also taught my wife how to turn of the key in case the pedel ever sticks (regardless the make and model)
Toyota is a great company. Ford too. I am running—not walking—away from ANY company run by OBAMA.
I do not trust this media/government attack on Toyota.
Problem? They’ll fix it. The rest is hype.
Did a mean ole Toyota run over your puppy when you were a little girl?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.