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Closing an Auto Plant: Toyota’s Side of the Story

N.Y. Times Letters to the Editor -- Toyota objects to the picture of the situation at the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant in Fremont, Calif., that Bob Herbert presents (“Workers Crushed by Toyota,” column, March 16).

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Submitted Mar 20, 2010 By: coughlin

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Author	Topic: Closing an Auto Plant: Toyota’s Side of the Story	Post a Reply Back to Topics

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ttwiw Champion Author Austin Posts:1,999 Points:919,195 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 9:30:33 AM Ignore ttwiw Report Abuse The plant closed for 2 reasons: * GM didn't want to be associated with the Toyota brand's safety issues * Toyota didn't want to be associated with Government Motors
RedRam2005 Champion Author San Antonio Posts:3,564 Points:604,625 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 9:28:54 AM Ignore RedRam2005 Report Abuse Why should Toyota be expected to keep a plant open when the other partner, Government Motors, stopped production? I think they were displaying good business sense to close a plant.
JimL1 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:3,153 Points:386,895 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 9:19:37 AM Ignore JimL1 Report Abuse If the guy who is complaining about Toyota's closing the plant can make it competitive then let him come up with the necessary resources and do it. He (Mr. Herbert) "does not mention NUMMI’s high business, supplier and logistics costs relative to Toyota’s 13 wholly owned North American facilities, or the impact of the 30 percent market decline on Toyota’s operations. This downturn is even more severe for framed trucks like the Tacoma manufactured by NUMMI. Toyota has voluntarily committed approximately $280 million to pay for bonuses for NUMMI’s 4,700 team members, while G.M. and Motors Liquidation Company are not contributing anything at all — even though NUMMI team members produced more than one million G.M. vehicles since 1985."
cableman31 Champion Author New York Posts:4,052 Points:1,073,080 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 9:15:17 AM Ignore cableman31 Report Abuse TOYOTA makes one hell of a piece of junk. No body disputes the fact that you will have no trouble starting the DEATH TRAP you bought. But once you start it, you can't control engine acceloration, then you can't stop it and now it is reported you can't steer you're runaway piece of garbage. There is definately something wrong either with their engineering or selection of parts manufactures. Either way "IT IS A CAR DEFINATELY WORTH STAYING AWAY FROM". Anybody who buys one now can't think much of living.
Rick01 Champion Author Utah Posts:4,041 Points:1,415,590 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 9:05:56 AM Ignore Rick01 Report Abuse Things change, always do.
paoli8 Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:2,987 Points:932,660 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 9:03:49 AM Ignore paoli8 Report Abuse Toyota is a joke.
milespergallon Champion Author Illinois Posts:5,008 Points:1,051,620 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 9:03:37 AM Ignore milespergallon Report Abuse This is not a news article but an opinion from the new york times. Who cares!
WilW Champion Author Atlanta Posts:7,362 Points:1,726,320 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 9:02:27 AM Ignore WilW Report Abuse NUMMI was great while it lasted. Started in the mid '80's, It can't survive today as a joint effort between two automakers (GM and Toyota) that are severely troubled, but for two different reasons.
k2kipp All-Star Author Minnesota Posts:800 Points:404,880 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 9:02:01 AM Ignore k2kipp Report Abuse A just could care less about anything to do with Toyota toys! Buy AMERICAN
mysub Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:4,323 Points:1,367,415 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 9:01:48 AM Ignore mysub Report Abuse 99dakota, right on.
PrepHermit Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,285 Points:678,430 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 9:01:12 AM Ignore PrepHermit Report Abuse Nice to know. How does this affect oil prices?
dopster Champion Author Toledo Posts:2,212 Points:1,359,185 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 9:01:00 AM Ignore dopster Report Abuse Toyota now has a taste of what the result of poor performance brings.
KillChain Champion Author Albuquerque Posts:2,269 Points:604,775 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 9:00:27 AM Ignore KillChain Report Abuse Toyota was pulling out from NUMMI, since GM took government money....don't believe me?....Look it up!
Dennis783 Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:8,771 Points:1,750,815 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:55:29 AM Ignore Dennis783 Report Abuse more bad press for Toyota
jpd683 All-Star Author Scranton Posts:993 Points:914,640 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:54:48 AM Ignore jpd683 Report Abuse Toyota is upset because they are losing their number one ranking in sales. They should worry mor about safety.
mk9999 Champion Author Rochester Posts:2,982 Points:697,195 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:52:10 AM Ignore mk9999 Report Abuse Don't buy a Toyota.
03mdx Champion Author Syracuse Posts:1,974 Points:628,790 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:52:03 AM Ignore 03mdx Report Abuse Toyota needs a huge reality check at this point. Plants close right and left, why do they get so upset when it's their plant?
headhog All-Star Author Indiana Posts:799 Points:374,815 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:51:37 AM Ignore headhog Report Abuse Perhaps we are not getting the whole story.
HEBster Champion Author Kentucky Posts:3,958 Points:1,413,335 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:49:49 AM Ignore HEBster Report Abuse & GM hasn't been closing right and left?
playtimeCLE Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,210 Points:596,635 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:49:24 AM Ignore playtimeCLE Report Abuse This plant is as much GM news as Toyota news. But our Media only wants to talk about Toyota.
hwmillerster Champion Author Missouri Posts:1,863 Points:500,890 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:49:21 AM Ignore hwmillerster Report Abuse Maybe Toyota has learned a lesson here.
CLM06 Champion Author Tampa Posts:4,709 Points:1,117,190 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:48:09 AM Ignore CLM06 Report Abuse Unions are more powerful than the companies they "WORK?" for!
jimshell Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:1,841 Points:467,140 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:45:23 AM Ignore jimshell Report Abuse This should thrill the UAW.
Toppers Champion Author Atlanta Posts:4,137 Points:1,505,290 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:45:19 AM Ignore Toppers Report Abuse Saw that coming a mile away...
wegman Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,933 Points:1,130,680 Joined:Jun 2001	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:43:39 AM Ignore wegman Report Abuse Toyota is a non-UAW company that does most of its manufacturing in business friendly states. NUMMI was a bad idea from the start - a joint business venture with a company on the road to bankruptcy (Government Motors) in a state with a business toxic regulatory environment and the UAW which is a millstone to the Big Three - possibly a sufficient condition for them to fail. And Toyota dumped a quarter billion dollars in the unions coffers while GM contributed zilch. Toyota is NOT the bad guy here (except for being stupid enough to get into bed with the UAW in the first place). Remember: Look for the union label - it tells you what NOT to buy!
scoop2008 Veteran Author Ontario Posts:251 Points:179,005 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:42:48 AM Ignore scoop2008 Report Abuse Is there anymore Toyota news???????
curlypooh Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,952 Points:1,037,165 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:41:57 AM Ignore curlypooh Report Abuse Raise the taxes and they'll run for cover. No one in government gets it!
w4kh Champion Author Riverside Posts:6,881 Points:1,279,445 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:40:21 AM Ignore w4kh Report Abuse Toyota correctly says: "While we regret the difficult but necessary decision to end our production contract with NUMMI, it’s clear that we have done our part to help ensure a smooth transition for NUMMI team members." Note that GM just pulled out and did NOTHING. And also note that the current climate for businesses in California is too expensive to remain profitable - too many and too high taxes along with too many regulations... Toyota is just one more company that has been driven out of the state by the idiotic mess in Sacramento, and they at least did something for the NUMMI people left behind.
turbosaab Champion Author Cleveland Posts:9,139 Points:1,438,665 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:39:47 AM Ignore turbosaab Report Abuse It's the economy, stupid.
hemiramrule Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:42,547 Points:1,764,155 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:39:13 AM Ignore hemiramrule Report Abuse I don't want to hear anymore about Toyrecall! Remember Pearl Harbor!
Zinnoil Champion Author Florida Posts:18,901 Points:2,139,725 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:38:12 AM Ignore Zinnoil Report Abuse When GM bailed out, there was no chance that Toyota would pick up the GM onerous union contract.
DJRIO Champion Author Miami Posts:2,495 Points:459,550 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:33:37 AM Ignore DJRIO Report Abuse oh boy
plbell627 Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,013 Points:300,820 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:32:31 AM Ignore plbell627 Report Abuse Toyota needs to step up to the plate and save jobs. Oh yes, they are in the middle of a BIG RECALL on its products.
99dakota Champion Author Providence Posts:3,418 Points:1,208,510 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:31:39 AM Ignore 99dakota Report Abuse Who cares about Toyota, or California anyway? They both are all screwed up.
Bpers2001 All-Star Author Seattle Posts:735 Points:104,070 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:31:06 AM Ignore Bpers2001 Report Abuse Any time that the working guy losing his job is a sad time.
MUSTANGSRUS Champion Author Ontario Posts:4,748 Points:1,002,870 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:30:34 AM Ignore MUSTANGSRUS Report Abuse Enough of Toyota already. Get back on topic.
FuelBarge Champion Author Long Island Posts:4,169 Points:1,100,965 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:27:47 AM Ignore FuelBarge Report Abuse I wouldn't want to work or live in California unless they scrapped their current government and laws, and started over from scratch. Too many rules and regulations and an overarching "nanny state" mentality.
speedys Champion Author Utah Posts:2,111 Points:1,586,020 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:25:33 AM Ignore speedys Report Abuse It is hard to do business in Calif.
Tru2psu2 Champion Author Winston-Salem Posts:6,773 Points:631,080 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:24:31 AM Ignore Tru2psu2 Report Abuse CA is sinking!
TFowler513 Champion Author Memphis Posts:2,382 Points:590,510 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:23:40 AM Ignore TFowler513 Report Abuse No one is immune to the state of the economy!!!
Tonester1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,664 Points:1,370,120 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:21:28 AM Ignore Tonester1 Report Abuse GM played a bit part in this also.
chemist74 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:9,867 Points:1,689,510 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:20:47 AM Ignore chemist74 Report Abuse California is an expensive state to operate in, it has a lot of regulation not common in other states and it is generally not business friendly. Its partner - GM (also known as the federal government) abandoned the plant. If GM/the federal govenment decided to abandon the plant, why should Toyota stay?
MRED3 Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:2,270 Points:444,220 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:19:57 AM Ignore MRED3 Report Abuse Our right raleightom.
bills55 Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,183 Points:304,925 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:19:21 AM Ignore bills55 Report Abuse Toyota can object all it wants.
raleightom All-Star Author Raleigh Posts:765 Points:215,710 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:17:47 AM Ignore raleightom Report Abuse Toyota ain't stupid folks . . . California is broke . . . why wait around for increased taxes . . . They're movin it to Mississippi . . . . Good chance FEMA will come to their rescue there ;)
ironbox_sara Champion Author Albany Posts:4,721 Points:1,297,925 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:17:14 AM Ignore ironbox_sara Report Abuse "Toyota objects." Screw Toyota.
hank1326 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,116 Points:774,175 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:17:08 AM Ignore hank1326 Report Abuse Toyota is full of arrogance. They are spending big money on testimonial ads instead of taking care of their customers. They deserved all the negative consequences for not handling their problems honestly and swiftly.
Mysticmeg Rookie Author Fort Worth Posts:6 Points:1,125 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:16:24 AM Ignore Mysticmeg Report Abuse California needs the jobs. Freemont California needs an answer to the Chamber of Commerce and the Tax Assessment Board. How can they close plants when the demand is up?
cv Champion Author Raleigh Posts:10,269 Points:2,293,080 Joined:Oct 2003	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:14:36 AM Ignore cv Report Abuse What??? folks complaining about a "foreign car manufacturer" closing? Many have been calling for NOT buying foreign cars, this is what happens when the plant in the US closes.....our own factory people lose their jobs.
correcting Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:25,704 Points:1,305,465 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:14:18 AM Ignore correcting Report Abuse I will never own a Toyota...it's just a piece of JUNK!
cardjcsk Champion Author Toronto Posts:2,427 Points:1,017,080 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:10:50 AM Ignore cardjcsk Report Abuse WOW You don't see that often
RichardoB Champion Author Fayetteville Posts:2,986 Points:1,069,320 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 8:10:43 AM Ignore RichardoB Report Abuse Since when is a letter to the editor at the New York Times news?