Its pretty damn obvious that the midsize car market is the most profitable with a total market share of 53.6%. Every reputable automotive source including the industry leader; Automotive News refers to the mid-size segment as the largest and most profitable. This is a given fact to anyone who knows anything about the industry. No other segment even comes close. Truck sales total are very high but its divided into several segments.

Toyota quotes for the Double cab 4 X4: to 60 in 6.11 and quarter in 14.6. Another member - Silver-Bolt- on this thread also quoted 14.6.

Do a google search and you'll get 50,000 hits.

Here's a test that indicates 6.3 and 14.8

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t173688.html

 

As far as the big three not being as profitable, i've heard from a couple of places that the foreign automakers dont have to go union in there plants that are in the U.S. Unlike the big three, which do. Thats probably a big part of it right there. I know in my area of California I easily see just as many domestics as imports if not maybe a few more.

 

This I have heard from 3 different dealers, Ford included: The main profits seen by dealers do not typically come from a sale of a vehicle but rather fees for scheduled maintenance and repairs and replacements thereafter that fall outside of warranty work. They make good money off of those buyers, myself included, that get extended warranties. I got mine as at the time I got my truck I would have exceeded their yearly allotment for mileage accrual.

For instance, my truck was listed for about 33,700, the X-plan and rebate took nearly 8000 off of that, and the dealer still admitted to making some small profit, he didn't say how much but said some. I would think it would be hard to make a profit after nearly 8 grand came off the price. Toyota and Honda are no different with their top selling cars. They will make more money after the sale than from the sale itself, although Toyota and Honda might actually make more from the initial sale than Ford, GM, or Chrysler does. They will still make more $$$ after that sale.

The union comment is also valid. No union means more profit. Union fees and stipulations in contracts can make or break a company.

 

Specific references please, from both Automotive News and Toyota, official Toyota not some BS site. I'm not searching. You said it, now you can't back it up with specific references.

Here's an example - 'For decades, the midsize car segment in the U.S. has been known as the "bread-and-butter" segment for carmakers because of its large size and plentiful buyers. In calendar 2005, the last full year for which statistics are available, midsize cars accounted for one out of every five vehicles sold in the U.S., according to automotive researcher J.D. Power and Associates. ' http://autos.msn.com/advice/article.aspx?contentid=2895

1 in 5, ie. 20%, your math skills are in keeping with your logic...

53.6% of total market to midsize sedans??? You're nuts.

 

Now hang on, if you read that statement a few times, you have to realize that you have to include all vehicles sold not just the private sector sales. This would include all fleet vehicles as well, cargo haulers, buses, motor homes, motorized farm equipment, and the like. The 20% you point out is valid for the overall motor vehicle market. It may still equate to 53.6% of the vehicles sold to the private sector. If you ever notice, rarely ever do company vehicles turn out to be small cars. Most of the time they are larger cars or trucks or bigger yet.

 

You should ask your mother how to use Google so that you may learn to get all the answers to everything you don't know about.

I'm an Executive in the auto industry and I have a fresh report on my desk. But here's a link from a quick Google search:

"The mid-sized car segment - the largest passenger car category with 3.99 million units sold in the first 10 months of 2001 - has seen buyers migrate to myriad sport-utilities. But its share of the U.S. car market remains flat. Mid-range cars represented 53.5 percent (or 4.15 million units) of the U.S."

http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0...fights-ho.html

I have another report on my desk that states that buyers of domestic vehicles tend to have a lower level of education than import buyers. I questioned the results, but you seem to have validated the results.

Other than sitting on the fence and questioning actual data, you have brought nothing to this discussion. And you obviously don't know what you are talking about.

 

You're an executive??? I guess that makes sense...

Your report says 53.6% of the car market. That won't include trucks, SUVs, or crossovers.

OH, and your report is from November of 2001!!!

Let's try data on the overall market and from the last month.

The Wall Street Journal says midsize is (surprise) 20%!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1187...ub_marketplace

They also reference Ward's data showing pick-ups (generally acknowledged as the most profitable segment) as 16.5%.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1185...ys_us_page_one

Find that official Toyota data yet?

 

How did this get so off topic? The thread started with can a Tundra match a stock L. Now its which segment of the market is more profitable. WTF. And your an auto exectutive for imports or domestics? Sound a wee bit defensive.

 

Ok, back on topic!! Saw a Tundra this morning, but no Lightning so there was no race. Stay tuned!

I admit, I probably didnt help on thread matters. sorry.

Folks, there are data out there coming out ying yangs, but until all of it or some of it can be directly compared, it is different data. This is, after all, a community, not a boxing ring. Let's play nice.

 

I'm starting to see a lot more Tundra's around here,(Phoenix) but that may be due to the rebates and financing thier offering now. Out here people don't have domestic loyalty like back in the midwest. I've yet to line up with one and as my L is stock, it will be interesting. May need to start considering a few mods.

 

I will admit, the Tundra is a nice looking truck. However, if its dimensions are the same as from 2004 then it wont work for me. As soon as I got my 2003 FX4, Toyota began bragging that their Tundra was 6" longer over all. Well, my 03 fits in my garage with just under 2" to spare between the rear bumper and garage door. I live in the snow belt during winter time and having a $35k to $45k truck sit outside is not an option. If the Tundra is still longer then good for their owners, but it wont work for me. And I NEED the Supercrew, I got a family, so extended cab or standard cab is not an option either.