Make Way for the Green Machines!

…Is Toyota making competition for themselves when surrounded by competition??

Takeshi Uchiyamada, Vice Chairman @ Toyota HQ has announced that within the next 3 years, they will be unveiling 21 new eco-friendly vehicles from hybrids to electric cars to fuel cell vehicles.

This stems from Toyota’s market research showing, “positive reception for new technology, such as the hybrid, surprised Toyota, underlying the deep interest the public has in reducing emissions and protecting the environment” – T. Uchiyamada.

Toyota is not the only one working on more green innovations.  Most of the U.S. carmakers are perfecting their new releases to close in the gap.  Prius’ top ranking is severely under threat not only in the U.S., but worldwide.   

 

In addition to all the new green autos hitting our U.S. roadways, European carmaker Pugeot is also coming out with their hot new concept, the Onyx, that is a sleek, sexy car that has 680 horsepower BUT gets comparable mileage to the Prius….sorry to say, when it comes to cars, I’m no loyalist, and if I can get all the perks of a Prius in the shell of a head-turning statement car – I’m all in!

How do I feel about being in direct competition with yourself?? Not so optimistic! With a launch of so many new vehicles and product line extensions, it seems more like this will result in cannibalism.  In the long run, I don’t think Toyota will see a substantial increase in revenue from this, but perhaps a marginal increase divided up amongst the rest of their models.

This is an overzealous and half-baked plan, have they even thought about how all this competition saturating the market will affect their bottom line? Instead of trying to make up for lost time and revenue due to the financial crises and instability due to the natural disasters in Japan, I feel it would be wise to pace yourselves.



Can’t wait to see all the new innovations, anyway ……!

http://goo.gl/Q6xSp 

-Jainine



 

Back By Popular Demand

How Does The Self Driving Prius Work

Toyota and Google explain the technology behind the self driving Prius. They explain what technology is needed and what difficult challenges they had in the development of the Prius. Google explains the advantages of the technology and how we might apply that technology to other aspects of our lives.

 

If your a Techno geek then this video is for you

check it out for yourself and let me know what you think

 

 

 

http://goo.gl/F3Xo1 

Thanks Again

Anthony D

 

Want to create your own Prius? I would think again!

     I was looking through the Toyota website to see if they had a "create your own Prius" type page, they do and I found it pretty easy. I was unaware Toyota had this service, maybe it's because there is a lack of advertising and marketing.

     I decided to create my own Prius to see how detailed I can get my car. It started out with having me choose the basics like model, engine size, and both interior and exterior colors. Throughout this who process there is an interactive car that moves and changes colors when you change it. The next step was add-on's like cargo nets and racks, nothing cool or exciting. Then the last step was the final review of the car. It was short and right to the point, but lacked major details and functions.

     I have been on Fords "create your own car" website and they have a ton of things you can customize. You can get racing stripes, 2-tone paint job, premium sound system, and so on. The point is people like to be creative and customize everything now in days. The Toyota create your own car website doesn't let people be creative and really customize a car.

  They should really look over the operation and fix it because they are no threat to their competition in that space on online car customization.

  Want to check out the Prius I created, go to the link below. I am sorry if the car looks plain, I had no choice! Sad.

http://goo.gl/wQvG3
-Anthony Albano

BLIND MAN DRIVES TOYOTA PRIUS

 

This is great advertising for the Toyota Prius and for Google. The two mega powers have joined up to create a car that could drive itself. And for one lucky man who is 95% blind and always wanted the sensation of driving, now his dream is coming true.

 

How cool is that a car can drive itself, by having this new technology it can change all of our live for the better. There would be no more drunk driving or how about falling a sleep while driving, well no more. And don't forget all those who can't drive and now have the ability to get around. I think the coolest thing about a car that can drive itself is that it has the ability to end traffic jams especially for someone like me living in

Los Angeles were traffic is a real big bad deal.

 

 CHECK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF

THANKS

Anthony D

Fierce Competition from…..Ford?!?

That’s right…I’ll say it again….Fierce Competition from…..Ford?!? 

When I think of Ford, I think of the old acronym….Found On Road Dead. Ford doesn’t strike a reliability is my mind, especially coming from a previous Ford owner. But who knows, maybe with the release of this new Fusion 2013, Toyota could lose some of their coveted and highly sought-out market share.

I know, shocking.  But here is the reality.  Every car company wants a nice piece of the hybrid car pie. 

According to sources at the Wall Street Journal (http://goo.gl/i1uG7) and USA Today (http://goo.gl/cPSeq), there just may be a loss of market share on the horizon for Toyota.  Although they have been the dominant and most popular hybrid vehicle worldwide, their reign of supremacy could see an end…or at least a decrease.

The competition is heating up between Toyota Prius and Ford Fusion, as they strive to bring the Fusion into the game.  This model was even re-engineered to leave out the heavy nickel-metal battery of the past and put in a lighter, more powerful, lithium-ion battery that cuts weight and increases capacity.

"The new Fusion is part of our plan to offer vehicles with the very best quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value," says Ford CEO Alan Mulally. "We are absolutely committed to class-leading fuel efficiency as a reason to buy Ford vehicles." – USA Today. 

Better watch out Prius, there’s a new economically and environmentally friendly competitor in the horizon….time to re-do your SWOT Analysis and see how you can maintain your firm grip on the market!

*Jainine*

Competition for the Prius

        The Toyota Prius hasn't had any true competition. Yes, there are other hybrid and electric automobiles out there, but none of those are big threats to Toyota. The 2013 Ford C-Max is going to be tough competition for Toyota and it's going to be an alternative to the Prius as well. Toyota needs to start working on a marketing campaign to maintain their large market share and to lock in potential Prius customers.

       I think the Toyota Prius will do just fine. The name Toyota is the most important factor. When you hear Toyota, you think quality. When you think Ford, you think not as good quality. Just that perception alone will benefit the Toyota Prius greatly. Positive brand recognition and strong loyalty is what every company strives for. Who knows, Toyota might not need to change anything about their marketing strategy.

If you want to check out the pros and cons of  the Ford C-Max, check out the link below.

http://goo.gl/DtFM1

Anthony A

2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In

 Here Carson Toyota gives a lengthy description of the new 2012 Toyota Prius with all of its advantages and capabilities. This advertising page is for people who really want to get a Prius and who want a little information about the Prius. For me this ad did not get me excited or motivated for the all new 2012 Toyota Prius. The ad was to long with basic knowledge about the Prius, if they are going to make an ad that long about a specific item then they should give information that is not common to the average consumer.

 

 http://www.carsontoyota.com/

Take a look for yourself!

Anthony D

Digital Media Marketing Mix!!

In an attempt to capture all the new Generation Y purchasers in the market, Toyota has introduced an aggressively integrated marketing campaign for the new Prius C line.  The target demographic is the busy, young professional, whose gadgets are always connected with media and information streaming. 

        

Not only do they have interesting (and not always effective) commercials, but now use the social networking mediums to target this very demographic!  

The Toyota Newsroom states, “Digital programs, including those in partnership with YouTube, Facebook, Hype Machine, Pandora and Hulu, will leverage all digital screens—Web, mobile and tablet—to support the target audience’s media behavior. Additional partner collaborations will feature first-of-their-kind executions, such as a mobile spinwheel integration with Urbanspoon, custom Prius c badges on BuzzFeed, and sponsored free apps available on Amazon.com for the Kindle Fire. Prius c will appear in a number of print publications, including TIME, People, InStyle and Sports Illustrated. Digital elements will be integrated into portions of the print plan to reflect insights about the multi-tasking, “always on” nature of the Prius c target. In addition to these placements, out of home boards inviting consumers to “meet the Prius c” will be displayed in several markets.”

As if this wasn’t enough! There will also be drive experiences for potential consumers to get behind the wheel of a Prius C at a number of lifestyle and music events events in the coming months. 

Great idea in my opinion!  But I think that there is a huge demographic that has been ignored here also. The previous Toyota customers! I have just paid off my Toyota 4Runner and I am in the market for a hybrid car.  I receive monthly newsletters and sporadic email campaigns from Toyota, but have I ever received any enticing information to go out and purchase a Prius? NO.  Potential return customer but no retention program in place.

goo.gl/ByxQR
 
*Jainine *


 

$1,000 Rebate on Prius C

TORRANCE, Calif. (August 24, 2012) –

Toyota Financial Services (TFS) announced that the new Prius C is now a vehicle option available to recent college graduates who want to take advantage of the company’s College Grad Rebate Program. TFS offers a $1,000 rebate to qualified college graduates toward the purchase of any new selected vehicle, the Toyota Prius C now being one of them.

Another cool thing is that the Prius C is the first hybrid available through this program. What the College Grad Rebate Program is trying to do is they want to help with the transition from college to workforce.

I believe Toyota is giving these grads rebates betting on the fact that they get jobs right out of college to pay the car loan. I think it’s smart for Toyota to include the Prius C in the college grad program because hybrid cars are hot now and a college grad would love to get a $1,000 rebate on one.

Read more about this article here: http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2012/08/24/047351-toyotas-1-000-rebate-program-for-college-graduates-now-includes.html

By: Anthony Albano

Can you say Bill Nye the Science Guy

                                      Can you say Bill Nye the Science Guy

 When I think of Bill Nye,
 I know I"m going to be entertained with some sort of science that benefits us all. And the Science Guy is back at again with this ad for the Toyota Prius. He gives us a little Tech Talk explaining the new feature of controlling the temperature in the Prius without having to take your eyes off the road.

Not only was I entertained by this KOOL SCIENCE GUY but I got to learn about the controlling device of the temperature in the Prius. The way Bill explains the new feature with his zany ways makes me want more.

Toyota has done an excellent job picking Bill Nye the Science Guy as a spokes men. He represents the perfect image for explaining the technology of the Pruis. Bill explains the feature in such way that its easy to understand and follow and at the same time entertain us as he does it.

                                           Check out his ad for the Toyota Prius on You-Tube.

                          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyhcJP1ljBE&feature=player_detailpage

                                                                   By:  Anthony D

"LIFE" commercial

The new 2012 commercial for Toyota Prius C is pretty awesome! I love how it appeals to different generations with their references to past and present topics.  The message that you come away with is that there will be no limit to what you can accomplish and to where you can go in your new Prius C and in your new role of an adult in the game of life.

Right out of the gate, it seems like they are only targeting a younger buyer the statement that if you’re a 20-or-30-something, you were probable permitted to play the board game, LIFE. Just this reference in itself grabs the attention to other generations who love this nostalgic game, such as the 20 and 30-something’s parents or even grandparents who might be in the market for a new vehicle and trying to get aboard the new wave of technology.

By marketing a car in such a way that is can be your guide through the game of life, taking you from late nights at karaoke bars, to stuffy boardroom meetings the next morning, to locally grown organic lunches, never posing a problem for this gas-electric hybrid that gets up to 53-miles per gallon.

This commercial seems to appeal to different generations simultaneously; those who used to have a “normal” suburban lifestyle, those who grew up during this time of transformations and those who are growing up now. Tying the past to the present like this was, in my opinion, very clever.  It helps that there is a lot of humor to the commercial also, and it does more than talk about the engineering and benefits of the car but appeals to other senses as well.

http://youtu.be/W4vItMp8Qlw


*Jainine*