Toyota Motor has obtained great public relations last week since three of Korea’s major dallies namely the Chosun IIbo, the Dong-A IIbo, and the JoongAng IIbo has released headline stories about the Japanese automaker’s Lexus plant in Japan. But Media Onul or Media Today which is a KBS TV show that examines issues in the media, has refuted the stories saying that it’s being too similar.

As a matter of fact, a headline story like that carried in a major newspaper is much more efficient in reaching consumers as compared to dozens of ads amounting to millions of won each. Last June 8, the current largest automaker in the world and producer of top-of-the-line Toyota coil springs, Toyota Motors has invited 53 journalists from 44 Japanese and foreign companies for a publicity event for its Lexus . All the journalists were based in Tokyo. They were requested to gather near the exit of Toyohashi Station in Aichi Prefecture where the plant is located. The one-way trip took an hour and 24 minutes from Tokyo by bullet train and the round trip fare was 17,000 yen or W127,000.

Why is the Toyota Prius much-loved? One answer may be that Prius shoppers want everyone to know that they are driving a hybrid. But there are numerous reasons to add to the list.

Only a third of Prius owners cited that reason just three years ago, according to CNW, which tracks auto shopping trends. “I really want people to know that I care about the environment,” said Joy Feasley of Philadelphia, the owner of a green 2006 Prius. “I like that people stop and ask me how I like my car.” Dan Becker, the head of the global warming program at the Sierra Club added, “The Prius allowed you to make a green statement with a car for the first time ever.”

This spring, over half of the Prius owners surveyed by CNW Marketing Research of Bandon, Ore., said that the main reason they bought their car was that it makes a statement about them.

The United States auto market is known for the demand for larger vehicles like sport utility vehicles and even full-size sedans. In fact, American motorists are still looking for larger cars to drive even with the increasing price of gasoline. This makes the auto market even more competitive. Since consumers are also looking for fuel efficient cars, they still want bigger sized cars and vehicles.

Car manufacturers need to focus their attention to developing and producing large vehicles with good fuel efficiency. This is already addressed by different car manufacturers. In fact, a top official for the surging Toyota Motor Corporation said that the pressure will be on automotive engineers to come up with a vehicle that will both address the size of the vehicle and the fuel economy issue.

Toyotausablog.com

The Nashville International Auto Show is about to open its doors to the public on the sixth of April. In connection with this, the Toyota Motor Corporation announced that they will be bringing their “Highway to the Future: Mobile Hybrid Experience” to the said event.

The Japanese car manufacturer announced the schedule of their tour on the 26th of March. The company says that the experience is aimed to let consumers experience driving their hybrid vehicles like the very popular Toyota Prius aside from the Camry and Highlander hybrid vehicles. These entire three models will come to feature and sport around the company’s Hybrid Synergy Drive System which allows them to make the most of the capability of the electric motor integrated into their vehicles.

Former president Jeff Wyler of Jeff Wyler Automotive Family Inc. was in town Thursday to accept Toyota’s 2006 Presidential Award, the second for the Springfield dealership which previously received the award in 2003.

Toyota spokesperson Jodi Peery said that Jeff Wyler Toyota, one of 348 recognized dealerships all over the nation, is the only area dealership to win the award.

Toyota, maker of quality Toyota strut mounts, collected the outcomes from survey data. The data was based by the Japanese company’s award giving on the following areas: customer satisfaction in sales, service and parts, training, and sales standards.

In Springfield’s region that includes Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan, 35 out of 118 dealers bested and won the award.

For customer satisfaction, Jeff Wyler Toyota got the 14th spot in the region. The dealership has also sent more than 80 percent of its staff for training at Toyota University.

People have certainly been asking if the Toyota Auris Space Concept vehicle is going to be the very next Toyota Corolla that holds five doors. However, it looks like it would only be up to the auto parts Toyota creator to define if they are really planning on making this concept become a real production vehicle.

If you do take a look at the Toyota Auris Space Concept, you would think that the vehicle simply outstanding. It may not have the same kind of flair that you would find in most

Toyota Auris

oncept vehicles but this one still does stand out. You can say though that it looks like a Toyota Vitz or a Toyota Yaris. And according to the company, they had created the Toyota Auris Space Concept so as to be able to show off and inform the people about the new type of design that they are calling the “Vibrant Clarity”.

It is said that as a hybrid the Toyota Camry hybrid does not have the same performance capabilities as the conventional sedan, but I would venture to say that as a moderate recreational driver, this car has all the performance capabilities one would need.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid is a more spacious, luxurious, comfortable version of Toyota’s popular Prius hybrid, with equally impressive fuel economy. The Camry hybrid lacks the aspects of the Prius that some buyers might find off-putting, such as the compact size. The Camry hybrid establishes a perfect balance of fuel economy, ‘green’ living, and a functional family sedan.

Toyota Motor Corp. (ADR:TM) may not need a government bailout, but it’s hurting badly.

The world’s top automaker said it will announce a revised 2009 sales forecast at its end-of-the-year news conference Dec. 22. The company is expected to slash at least 1 million cars from its original forecast of 9.7 million units, Reuters reported.

It’s also expected to outline cost cutting measures that could include laying off employees, suspending plant operations, delaying the opening of new plants, and cutting the budget for research and development.

According to several Japanese media outlets, Toyota plans to eliminate bonuses for its executives and is expected to post a second-half loss.

One analyst believes the company’s dividend also could be on the chopping block.

General Motors may be sitting at the top for the moment but the surging Toyota is closing the gap between them fast. There are experts in the auto industry who pointed out that Toyota may overtake General Motors by the end of the year. And if one looks at the sales figure for the past two months, it is easy to see why they see that happening.

Toyota has posted record breaking sales for the month of January and February. While General Motors posted an improvement for the month of February, they still have to counter Toyota’s skyrocketing rise of popularity among American car buyers. And recently, Toyota announced that they will be expanding their reach into the East Coast after making the West Coast their hotbed.