Toyota Enters the American Pickup Market with Redesigned Full-Size Tundra

Strategic Insights -

Toyota has made a significant push into the American pickup market with the introduction of its redesigned full-size Tundra pickup truck at the Chicago Auto Show. The Japanese automaker aims to take a chunk of the lucrative pickup segment from American competitors General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. The new Tundra boasts a range of features, including a 5.7-liter V-8 engine, six-speed automatic transmission, and an eight-foot cargo bed. With production plans in place for 200,000 units, the new model is set to hit the streets in 11 months.

Key Takeaways:

  • Toyota has introduced its redesigned full-size Tundra pickup truck, targeting the American pickup market with a 10-inch longer model featuring a 5.7-liter V-8 engine, six-speed automatic transmission, and an eight-foot cargo bed.
  • The new Tundra will be manufactured at Toyota's Princeton, Ind., plant and its new San Antonio plant this year, with plans to produce 200,000 units in the next 11 months.
  • Toyota will also offer the Tundra with a "fuel-stingy" four-liter V-6 and a 4.7-liter V-8, highlighting the importance of fuel efficiency in the industry.
  • The possibility of a hybrid pickup truck is real, with Toyota's management aiming for all vehicles to have hybrid technology in the future.
  • Toyota stressed the American aspect of the model, highlighting that the Tundra will be the only full-size pickup exclusively built in the heart of America.
  • The success of the new Tundra depends on how well Toyota researched its target consumers, those who maximize pickup truck capabilities for jobs like ranching and construction.
  • The introduction of the new Tundra may set the stage for a power struggle over market share, with American companies unable to afford losing the segment to the Japanese automaker.

Statistics:

  • Production plans: 200,000 units
  • Engine options: 5.7-liter V-8, four-liter V-6, 4.7-liter V-8
  • Towing capacity: over 10,000 pounds
  • Cargo bed length: eight feet
  • Production locations: Princeton, Ind., plant and new San Antonio plant
  • Launch date: 11 months from introduction

Sources:

  • Jim Press, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales USA
  • Toyota Motor Sales USA
  • Irv Miller, group vice president of corporate communications
  • Jalopnik.com
  • Chicago Auto Show
  • General Motors Corp.
  • Ford Motor Co.
  • Toyota's management