IntellaCar, the Mobile Platform that Empowers Sales Consultants (www.IntellaCar.com), is seeking a few progressive Toyota Dealers in major markets to add to our pilot program starting soon . The pilot consists of training 6 of your Sales Consultants to use IntellaCar on an iTouch, iPhone and/or iPad to increase sales and customer satisfaction, while improving Sales Consultant effectiveness. The IntellaCar service will be provided at no charge for the pilot period – the Dealer is to provide the equipment for the 6 Sales Consultants.

Introduction to IntellaCar

IntellaCar accelerates and empowers the dealership sales process by putting an optimized world of information wirelessly in the hands of the Sales Consultant (SC) — in the showroom, on the lot, during a test drive and even on the SC’s day off (when a customer calls).

The unrivaled power of IntellaCar is due to its Optimized Information Delivery (O.I.D.) System:
• Built from the Sales Consultant’s perspective, IntellaCar delivers the optimized information SC’s need as it synchronizes with their sales rhythm.
• The comprehensive content covers every step of the sales process from Greeting through Delivery.
Powerful benefits:
• Build credibility and trust while increasing sales and customer satisfaction
• Shift the sales focus from price to value by helping customers truly understand each vehicle
• Prepare/equip SC’s to be in par with today’s well-researched customer
• And many more…

To become a pilot Dealer, contact Jim Hughes at 805-558-4441 or jimhughes@IntellaCar.com.

TORRANCE, Calif., August 26, 2010 — Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced that it will conduct a voluntary safety recall involving approximately 1.13 million 2005-2008 Model Year Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles sold in North America to address some Engine Control Modules (ECM) that may have been improperly manufactured. No other Toyota or Lexus vehicles are involved in this recall.

On vehicles equipped with the 1ZZ-FE engine and two-wheel drive, there is a possibility that a crack may develop at certain solder points or on the electronic component used to protect circuits against excessive voltage (varistor), on the ECM’s circuit board. In most cases, if a crack occurs at certain solder points or on certain varistors, the check engine may illuminate, harsh shifting could result, or the engine may not start. In limited instances, if cracking occurs on particular solder points or varistors, the engine could stop while the vehicle is being driven.
Read the rest of this entry →

The troubles continue to mount for Toyota.  Toyota North America just released a statement saying a U.S. recall of Lexus LS models is planned. 
This move would be the latest in a long series of recall-related headaches for the automaker, which has dealt with a steady stream of such issues since February. 
”Toyota North America is aware that certain 2010 Lexus LS sedans equipped with optional Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS) may exhibit a temporary steering wheel off-center condition, under a specific driving maneuver,” officials explained. “Based on our discussions with TMC, preparations are being made to file a recall in the United States on Friday, May 21.” Read the rest of this entry →

Toyota dealers sold 31,090 certified pre-owned vehicles in April, up from 21,646 in April 2009.  With the same number of selling days (26) as last year, TCUV sales were up 9,444 units.  That’s more than all European brands combined for the month.  The previous monthly sales record for Toyota Certified Used Vehicles of 27,114 units sold was set in March 2008.  Toyota certified sales are up 13.1 percent year-over-year.

Overall CPO sales rose to 144,117 in April from 133,449 in April 2009. GM saw a major decline across all its brands, with the total for the GM Certified Used Car program falling to 22,789 from 28,722 in April 2009.  Chevrolet, once the industry leader, fell to 14,297 from 19,054 in April 2009. It is now the third best-selling brand behind Toyota and Honda.

As reported by Used Car News

New auto safety legislation proposed in the wake of Toyota’s recall problems is drawing criticism from House Republicans and Michigan Democrat John Dingell, suggesting that changes are in store for the Democratic leaders’ bill.  Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee said almost unanimously today that the draft bill would unduly expand government authority and undercut automakers while they are rebounding from a severe slump.  “I’m not sure it’s time to pile on the auto industry,” Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, the top Republican on the committee, said at the hearing of the subcommittee on commerce.

Dingell, in a statement, said: “As with most first drafts of legislation, the Waxman-Rush bill has provisions that, in my view, require improvement, especially as they relate to the bill’s practicability, both for federal regulators and those subject to federal regulation,” Dingell said in a statement.  Chairman Henry Waxman, the bill’s chief sponsor, said his goal was to have the committee pass a bill that both Dingell and he could support. Read the rest of this entry →

Toyota has announced a remedy to update the Vehicle Stability Control System software on about 9,400 model-year 2010 Lexus GX 460 SUVs that were recently voluntarily recalled. 

Toyota indicated that it will begin implementing the remedy program at dealerships during the next two weeks.  They also said its franchise dealers would be reaching out to customers shortly to set up appointments to make the system software modification. Mark Templin, Lexus Group vice president and general manager said “Lexus is confident that the update will make the performance of the GX even better for our customers.” 

When Toyota made the recall, they pledged that owners of the recalled Lexus unit could use a courtesy vehicle until the remedy work has been completed. 

They urge customers who have any questions or concerns to contact their local Lexus dealer or Lexus Customer Satisfaction at (800) 25-LEXUS or (800) 255-3987.

Automotive News: April 8, 2010

Toyota Motor corp. knew about flaws that could cause unintended acceleration more than 3 1/2 years before it recalled cars and trucks to fix the defects, according to company timelines.  Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, learned that floor mats could entrap accelerator pedals as early as Feb. 7, 2006, and was aware five months later that pedals could stick, according to documents dated March 24 that were submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and obtained Thursday.  The timelines show what Toyota has said was a slow response that led to the recall of about 8 million vehicles worldwide starting last year to repair the two types of acceleration-related defects.

The first report was from a model year 2005 Prius hybrid “regarding floor mat interference with an accelerator pedal,” according to the documents, which were sent by the carmaker to the safety agency.  Martha Voss, a Washington-based spokeswoman for Toyota, had no immediate comment.  Toyota began recalls for the two pedal-related defects after an Aug. 28 Lexus sedan crash killed off-duty California Highway Patrol officer Mark Saylor and three family members when a floor mat jammed down the accelerator pedal. Read the rest of this entry →

A panel of federal judges on Friday chose Southern California federal court as the location to consolidate dozens of lawsuits filed in the aftermath of Toyota’s recall of millions of vehicles over sudden unexpected acceleration problems.  The decision by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralizes more than 200 lawsuits against Toyota before U.S. District Judge James V. Selna, a 2003 appointee of former President George W. Bush.

Selna, 65, whose court is located near Los Angeles in Orange County, Calif., will hear important pretrial motions for all cases, eventually leading to trial, settlement or dismissal of the lawsuits. More than 130 lawsuits are potential class-action cases filed by Toyota owners who claim their vehicles plummeted in value after the recalls. A key early decision in those cases is whether to establish all similar Toyota owners as a single class, meaning all would be affected by a potential damage award or settlement.

U.S. seeks to fine Toyota $16.4 million

John Crawley and David Bailey
WASHINGTON/DETROIT
Mon Apr 5, 2010 8:21pm EDT

(Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp faces a proposed $16.4 million fine from U.S. regulators who said the automaker knowingly delayed a massive recall for defective accelerator pedals.

U.S.

The civil penalty, the largest that the U.S. Department of Transportation has ever sought, is the first official finding that the world’s largest automaker violated U.S. safety regulations. Toyota can appeal the penalty.

Click here for more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6343YE20100406

Toyota sales up 30 percent in March; worst may be over

By Mark Rechtin, Crain News Service

NEW YORK (March 31, 2010) — Perhaps seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, Toyota expects March sales to be up 30 to 35 percent over year-ago figures, outpacing industry gains, its top U.S. executive said yesterday.

Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., said the “biggest surprise has been the RAV4,” which saw sales surge to an expected 22,000 units in March—far above the crossover’s typical sales. Mr. Lentz theorized that perhaps RAV4 incentives were a bit high. Read the rest of this entry →