The leverage of debt reduction process will take years5 and 7 this year a sharp drop after the 9The first the prior notice of at least two months vAmount the aborted operations recorded a record 61This applies to biology as for the economyOscillation situations have already been met56 to 13613 dollar while it had declined 3Hire stars of football has never been the guarantee of winning the matchIn Britain TMobile and the operator 3 already doMarch 19 the international monetary fund has given the tempo"The current situation of the European market is not good at all." This year, total sales could drop by about 10 over 2007. And the crisis could last about two years. Since I'm in the business, I've never seen such setbacks. "President of Toyota Motor Europe, Tadashi Arashima provides a lucid observation. While the powerful Japanese group had celebrated last year the eleventh year in a row of its European sales growth, it will be required to realize this year.
On the first ten months of 2008, deliveries have already dropped by 13.8. And the coming months are likely to be worse. On its fiscal year, which runs from April 2007 to March, the old Continent, which will represent far less than North America, the Japan and the rest of Asia, should Cap 1.21 million vehicles sold, against 1.28 million a year earlier, even including the growth registered in the Russian market, which offsets the decline elsewhere.
More worrying for the number one world: the decline in terms of market share. "Some of our problems is the lack of new models." This is why we have lost business positions, because there are fewer world in our showrooms, appropriate Tadashi Arashima. The retention rate is good: about 60 of our customers redeem a Toyota. The present difficulty, it is rather to attract external clients to the mark. "But after a few quarters past internally to prepare more ecological and more sober engines fuel to meet the new European standards on CO2, the time of the commercial conquest will again sound, promises the Japanese leader.
A 4 4 "politically correct".
First manifestation of this renewed offensive: the iQ micro-citadine (for "IQ" in English), launched in France and a part of Europe next January. With less than 3 metres long, this competitor of the Smart is "the smallest four-seater in the world", although his back seat is highly symbolic. It is intended to complement the range to the bottom, under the Aygo, which measures 40 inches. With several patented technological innovations, to preserve its livability in a ultra-contraint volume, it displays a price which is proportional to its size (13,000 euros in petrol version) and 15.200 euros in diesel. At the time, Toyota displayed reasonable forecasts: 80,000 sales expected by year in the West, including 13,000 in France next year.
Second weapon of conquest: the Urban Cruiser, a vehicle of a new genus, kind of 4 4 "politically correct", low and modest dimensions, with CO2 emissions particularly limited for its category. European commercialization is planned for May-June 2009. Toyota may thus create a new segment, as once with his 4 4 Rav-4. At the time, set modest goals, in keeping with his tactics: only of 25,000 to 30,000 a year. What justify its construction in a European plant, says boss Toyota Europe. "If we succeed this one, then we will reflect to the implementation of the second generation...".
Last weapon symbolic turning on components of the large Avensis (sedan and break) and the new Lexus IS 250 convertible: the arrival of the third generation of Prius. This hybrid powerplant combining two engines (gasoline and electricity) is not sold in very large volumes in Europe, but it contributed very positively to the image of the constructor. Unveiled first at the Salon of Detroit, next January, the new generation will then host the Geneva Salon in March, before his commercial debut European end of June. By adding the old Prius, in the first half, then her replacement, Toyota hopes to sell hybrid 70,000 in Europe next year. Despite Honda Ortega, who will seek to lower the price of the hybrid, the new Prius should instead be more expensive than the outgoing, reflecting technical improvements.
