New Corolla delayed until 2008
07-11-2006, 12:28 PM
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New Corolla delayed until 2008
toyota says they're letting the corolla sit a little longer to concentrate on other new models, and because it's selling remarkably well, given its age. i don't know how to explain that..
or maybe they're delaying it so they can further develop the next generation corolla to compete with the new civic. who knows. with sales this strong already, how can they go wrong? either way, they'll have more time to work on it, and i think we can expect something huge from toyota in 2008. :noes:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...394/1148/rss25
or maybe they're delaying it so they can further develop the next generation corolla to compete with the new civic. who knows. with sales this strong already, how can they go wrong? either way, they'll have more time to work on it, and i think we can expect something huge from toyota in 2008. :noes:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...394/1148/rss25
New Corolla delayed until 2008
Alan Ohnsman / Bloomberg News
Toyota Motor Corp.'s Corolla, the world's best-selling small car, will keep its current design for a record sixth year, until 2008, as the automaker focuses on rolling out other new models.
"There was a decision to be made regarding engineering resources," John Hanson, a spokesman for Toyota's U.S. unit, said in an interview. "We decided to let Corolla go a little longer, mainly because Corolla has been such a huge sales success compared with where we thought it would be at this stage of its life cycle."
U.S. sales of Corolla sedans and the Matrix hatchback climbed 13 percent in the first half of 2006 as gasoline -- at almost $3 a gallon -- helped propel demand for compacts such as Corolla and its key competitor, Honda Motor Co.'s Civic.
Toyota has sold more than 30 million Corollas since the model debuted in Japan in 1966. None of its previous designs has been on the market for more than five years, according to Toyota's Web site. The current version was released in March 2002.
Ensuring a smooth release of the new midsize Camry sedan, Toyota's top-selling U.S. model, was a primary reason for slowing the Corolla schedule, Hanson said.
"We were using essentially all engineering resources to make sure Camry launched on time," Hanson said. "We are very comfortable that the current generation Corolla would be just fine for an additional year."
Corolla sales in the U.S. this year totaled 197,303 through June, compared with 174,054 a year earlier.
Automotive News, a trade publication, reported the Corolla delay in its July 10 edition, based on an interview with David Danzer, group vice president of planning and development for Torrance, California-based Toyota Motor Sales.
Shares of Toyota rose $1.11 to $105.49 Monday on the New York Stock Exchange.
Alan Ohnsman / Bloomberg News
Toyota Motor Corp.'s Corolla, the world's best-selling small car, will keep its current design for a record sixth year, until 2008, as the automaker focuses on rolling out other new models.
"There was a decision to be made regarding engineering resources," John Hanson, a spokesman for Toyota's U.S. unit, said in an interview. "We decided to let Corolla go a little longer, mainly because Corolla has been such a huge sales success compared with where we thought it would be at this stage of its life cycle."
U.S. sales of Corolla sedans and the Matrix hatchback climbed 13 percent in the first half of 2006 as gasoline -- at almost $3 a gallon -- helped propel demand for compacts such as Corolla and its key competitor, Honda Motor Co.'s Civic.
Toyota has sold more than 30 million Corollas since the model debuted in Japan in 1966. None of its previous designs has been on the market for more than five years, according to Toyota's Web site. The current version was released in March 2002.
Ensuring a smooth release of the new midsize Camry sedan, Toyota's top-selling U.S. model, was a primary reason for slowing the Corolla schedule, Hanson said.
"We were using essentially all engineering resources to make sure Camry launched on time," Hanson said. "We are very comfortable that the current generation Corolla would be just fine for an additional year."
Corolla sales in the U.S. this year totaled 197,303 through June, compared with 174,054 a year earlier.
Automotive News, a trade publication, reported the Corolla delay in its July 10 edition, based on an interview with David Danzer, group vice president of planning and development for Torrance, California-based Toyota Motor Sales.
Shares of Toyota rose $1.11 to $105.49 Monday on the New York Stock Exchange.
07-11-2006, 03:44 PM
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"We were using essentially all engineering resources to make sure Camry launched on time," Hanson said. "We are very comfortable that the current generation Corolla would be just fine for an additional year."
07-11-2006, 03:53 PM
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Originally Posted by kazi
Sounds like a lot of BS to cover their ass and go back and make some more changes, IMO.
07-11-2006, 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Troopa-R
Maybe. But with sales of the Corolla/Matrix up almost 14% YTD and soundly beating the brand new Civic Sedan/Coupe by about 10K units a month, they do have a valid point. Why not save a couple million, let it go an extra year, and give them time to produce a product that won't just maintain the status quo but maybe increase sales even more? The new Civic is a great car but sales versus the old model have been pretty flat (other than the incredible first two months after launch).
07-11-2006, 04:12 PM
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Originally Posted by kazi
More incentives, lower out the door price, and fleet sales has a lot to do with why the Corolla sales by quantities are higher than the new Civic. As far as the percentage increase, its pretty much across the board that small cars sales are booming.
All I'm arguing here is that this is a good business decision for Toyota. Even with incentives, Toyota long ago made back it's investment on the current gen Corolla. Moreover, current Corolla sales are pretty much the best they've been in the 5 years they've been on sale. Delaying the next Corolla saves money and gives them the opportunity to make it even better. The only loser here is the competition.
07-11-2006, 04:16 PM
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civic sales have fallen flat for June, but up until then they weren't bad. may sales were up 12%. year to date civic sales are still up 17%...
maybe july will be better :dunno: i hope so. but the new corolla is going to do murder.
maybe july will be better :dunno: i hope so. but the new corolla is going to do murder.
07-11-2006, 04:26 PM
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The new civic is already getting long in the tooth, its so increadibly fugly and cheaply built thats its sales will continually decline. I predict that next year civics sales will be -30/35% compared to 2005.
Back on subject - I think its not a bad decision for Toyota. While the Corolla is nothing exciting, it is a very decent car, and actually looks like a real car, unlike the new Civic, which looks like a soap box. And besides, Toyota just launched the Yaris, so if they release new Corolla now, it will steal some momentium from the Yaris.
Back on subject - I think its not a bad decision for Toyota. While the Corolla is nothing exciting, it is a very decent car, and actually looks like a real car, unlike the new Civic, which looks like a soap box. And besides, Toyota just launched the Yaris, so if they release new Corolla now, it will steal some momentium from the Yaris.