New Scion Vehicles Not Coming Any Time Soon
This is not necessarily good news, but Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation has reassured franchisees they will continue with Scion but that Toyota has limited resources and had to prioritize.
The company is pouring money into its Lexus luxury division; it’s investing in efficient new drivetrains and even spending money on trucks. It appears as though Scion has been left out in the cold, unless, perhaps, they’re getting a sporty version of the Tundra (that’s a joke…).
Beyond the ongoing product drought Toyoda (with a “D”) also touched on Scion’s roll in Toyota’s (with a “T”) brand hierarchy. He implied that Scion has shifted away from its original mission by going for too much sales volume.
Back in August Toyota gave its dealers permission to jettison Scion franchises without any penalties. Currently there are about 1,000 Scion stores in operation; there are no stand-alone franchises, they’re all part of Toyota dealers.
SEE ALSO: Scion Consider Trimming Dealer Network Down
But the long wait for new vehicles could be worth it. Toyota has redesigned its product-development process to cut costs through the use of common parts; it’s also focusing on clever engineering.
Today, essentially the entire Scion lineup is due for a redesign. But the brand, its dealers and customers will just have to be patient at this point before any new products make it to showrooms.
[Sourse: Automotive News]
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Born and raised in metro Detroit, Craig was steeped in mechanics from childhood. He feels as much at home with a wrench or welding gun in his hand as he does behind the wheel or in front of a camera. Putting his Bachelor's Degree in Journalism to good use, he's always pumping out videos, reviews, and features for AutoGuide.com. When the workday is over, he can be found out driving his fully restored 1936 Ford V8 sedan. Craig has covered the automotive industry full time for more than 10 years and is a member of the Automotive Press Association (APA) and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA).
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