6 ms·

I just don't understand Toyota's product strategy here. They are like Apple in car manufacturing (not comparing in design but in reliability and sheer quantity

I just don't understand Toyota's product strategy here. They are like Apple in car manufacturing (not comparing in design but in reliability and sheer quantity of products). So I'd assume they'd understood the demand for the electric cars for some time now and would have come up with electric cars which have great reliability and are cheap. But all they have done is introduced Mirai which only sells 100 a month and are costly. Very un-Toyota like! It seems that the management is not at all interested in anything except the Hybrid and gasoline powered models.

rsync 9y ago
I think an even bigger conundrum is Nissan ... They produced and delivered a popular, well received electric car and have been selling them since 2010. I assumed we would, after a few years, see electric Jukes and 350z and an Infiniti model. Maybe a electric GT-R as a "halo" model. Something ? Anything ? Instead, seven years went by and they have managed to (almost) release a second-generation Leaf.
- gordon_freeman 9y ago
  Indeed, very disappointing. Even bigger threat for these Japanese automakers is becoming irrelevant once the car companies which don't have ride-sharing platform of their own start becoming just a commodity and wafer-thin-margin businesses. They need to pivot hard in future or else the Teslas and Waymos will overthrow them in a decade or so.
- ZeroGravitas 9y ago
  They also have the "e-power" platform, of which the Note version is supposed to be selling well, and a Juke version has been shown in concept form. This is, basically, the Leaf setup but with a much smaller battery and a range extending generator. Currently you can't even plug it in, but it does give higher mpg and better driving experience around urban areas compared with an ICE car.
hkmurakami 9y ago
They're in an innovator's dilemma because they (all the established players) have a huge advantage in drivetrain/engine technology (which is very difficult to replicate) vs any newcomer that they would be giving up if/when the market moves to full electric and motors.

rsync 9y ago

I think an even bigger conundrum is Nissan ... They produced and delivered a popular, well received electric car and have been selling them since 2010. I assumed we would, after a few years, see electric Jukes and 350z and an Infiniti model. Maybe a electric GT-R as a "halo" model. Something ? Anything ? Instead, seven years went by and they have managed to (almost) release a second-generation Leaf.

gordon_freeman 9y ago
Indeed, very disappointing. Even bigger threat for these Japanese automakers is becoming irrelevant once the car companies which don't have ride-sharing platform of their own start becoming just a commodity and wafer-thin-margin businesses. They need to pivot hard in future or else the Teslas and Waymos will overthrow them in a decade or so.
ZeroGravitas 9y ago
They also have the "e-power" platform, of which the Note version is supposed to be selling well, and a Juke version has been shown in concept form. This is, basically, the Leaf setup but with a much smaller battery and a range extending generator. Currently you can't even plug it in, but it does give higher mpg and better driving experience around urban areas compared with an ICE car.

hkmurakami 9y ago

They're in an innovator's dilemma because they (all the established players) have a huge advantage in drivetrain/engine technology (which is very difficult to replicate) vs any newcomer that they would be giving up if/when the market moves to full electric and motors.