Seemingly Impervious Toyota Hurting - Despite cost-cutting, Toyota is looking ahead to more HEVs and fuel-efficient trucks

摘要

YOU KNOW IT'S A REAL CRISIS WHEN even Toyota Motor Corp. is seriously hurting - and it is. Once seemingly impervious to the sales and profit woes that plague lesser auto makers, Toyota's vehicle sales and profits are plummeting globally, as well as in the U.S. It has slashed its profit projections almost 70% for the current fiscal year, and its credit rating has been downgraded. Toyota's U.S. sales declined 25.9% in October, not much better than the industry-wide plunge of 32%, despite an aggressive 0% financing program, and it is not expected to get better soon. Ward's is forecasting Toyota's daily sales for November at about 5,500 units - down 30% compared with year-ago.