This morning, Chrysler announced that it had hired Jim Press, president of Toyota Motor North America, to become its new vice chairman and president. Mr. Press will oversee all sales and marketing, along with product strategy, and service and parts. He will report to Chrysler’s newly hired chief executive, Robert L. Nardelli. This is a big move for Chrysler
Big move, I doubt it. Does one man have all the hybrid and quaility know how? If so, great for Chrysler. PHEV and quality is all I'm interested in, so by the time my Prius wears out Chrysler might have a replacement ready.
I can't write what I've heard from Toyota insiders, but there's enough to this story to make a movie with intrigue ranging from corporate espionage to betrayal to exotic women to...well, maybe I'll start on the screenplay. It might sell in Japan. Of course, the well-placed rumors could be wrong, I haven't verified them, but if half are accurate, this could be near the top of shakeups in Toyota history. It's already reached into the Toyota boardroom. Thank goodness for the creativity of so many Toyota engineers and manufacturing geniuses, they won't miss a beat with or without any particular executive, by design.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(amped @ Sep 20 2007, 11:17 PM) [snapback]515599[/snapback]</div> Whenever someone tells me that no one could take their place should they leave or be let go, I agree that they might be right. But a couple of us will come together and do just fine.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Sep 21 2007, 02:16 PM) [snapback]515716[/snapback]</div> i was listening to first interview Press gave to some radio station, and he was basically saying it was his chance to tackle something big and change something. On the other hand, Toyota is big, oiled machine that will keep going and not one person can change it.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(amped @ Sep 21 2007, 12:17 AM) [snapback]515599[/snapback]</div> Maybe he just got tired of flying to Japan.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ Sep 21 2007, 12:08 PM) [snapback]515852[/snapback]</div> You missed the most important thing he added to Toyota....an American face and an American voice in toyota city where all the decisions are made.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Sep 25 2007, 08:18 AM) [snapback]517396[/snapback]</div> There are many Americans (Don Esmond and Jim Lentz, for example) who could fill his shoes. The question is whether another American will ever be entrusted with a Toyota board seat again. Press was the first, but I'm afraid the backlash from the terms surrounding his leaving may mean some time before another American gets the nod, if ever. Again, Toyota won't miss a beat and may in fact be stronger because of it. One example is that Press had a rep for coddling dealers compared to, say, Honda who demands and gets the best facilities in most markets. Hopefully that will change soon. BTW, Toyota worldwide HQ are in Tokyo, not Toyota City.
rep for coddling dealers... yeah i can see that. the big drive for the early months of 07 over at the local dealership was to improve customer service survey scores. if they made a certain standard, Press would take the whole dealership out to dinner. back in june? free dinner. very nice, too. Press got stuck at an airport due to bad weather, but they made a huge bash out of the thing. shame he left- i bet the bigwigs up at toyota are really steamed about it.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Sep 25 2007, 09:06 PM) [snapback]517690[/snapback]</div> Not that those scores mean much... my Toyota dealer 'helpfully' offered to send the survey in for me when I got it in the mail... just bring it right by the dealership and drop it off.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Sep 25 2007, 08:06 PM) [snapback]517690[/snapback]</div> Press leaving Toyota is a much larger indicator of the near future at least in the auto business.
