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Closing an Auto Plant: Toyota’s Side of the Story

N.Y. Times Letters to the Editor -- Toyota objects to the picture of the situation at the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant in Fremont, Calif., that Bob Herbert presents (“Workers Crushed by Toyota,” column, March 16).

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Submitted Mar 20, 2010 By: coughlin

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Bonanza Champion Author Boston Posts:6,014 Points:1,538,990 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 6:19:45 AM Ignore Bonanza Report Abuse If a company has a good product at a reasonable profit they stay. If not, they close or move.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:10,169 Points:593,750 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 21, 2010 10:50:35 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse coughlin: thanks for the good laugh.
coughlin All-Star Author San Jose Posts:956 Points:263,375 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 9:05:13 PM Ignore coughlin Report Abuse Hunter114 Posted on Mar 20, 2010 at 10:22:06 "Always factcheck an article from the NY Slimes." If the esteemed scholar and media critic "Hunter114" had read it, he would have found that it was a not an article but rather a 'Letter to the Editor' from a North America Vice President of Toyota. But then, THAT would have required effort on Hunter114's part. Who was it that said, "It's better to keep your mouth shut and have people think that you are stupid, than to open it up and remove all doubt"?
Amplion Champion Author Oregon Posts:1,335 Points:855,155 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 9:04:56 PM Ignore Amplion Report Abuse A typical TOYOTA LEAN MANUFACTURING LINE screw up.
FordF2502001 Champion Author Mississippi Posts:2,877 Points:629,590 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 7:12:27 PM Ignore FordF2502001 Report Abuse The blame falls on government motors
SpaceAce5 Veteran Author South Dakota Posts:300 Points:66,245 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 6:37:34 PM Ignore SpaceAce5 Report Abuse and its probably nowhere near over
Sneakers55 Champion Author Houston Posts:31,191 Points:1,259,645 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 5:19:03 PM Ignore Sneakers55 Report Abuse HailstormCA wrote: >You build a plant like that in a high cost-of-living area and you're >just asking for trouble. It's been a problem since day one. It probably wasn't a high-cost plant when General Motors originally built it in 1962. I made a trip to Silicon Valley in 1979 and there were still fruit orchards (usually incompatible with high cost) just a couple of miles from Infinite Loop in Cupertino (the Apple campus, for those not familiar with the area). >Didn't Ford own that once. I know GM was there. General Motors shuttered the Fremont plant once. The respective original contributions to NUMMI were the empty building shell from GM and the tooling from Toyota.
cpl11787 All-Star Author Minnesota Posts:630 Points:123,275 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 2:18:02 PM Ignore cpl11787 Report Abuse they should just fix things up.
TheDix All-Star Author Ontario Posts:599 Points:110,115 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 2:14:53 PM Ignore TheDix Report Abuse I object to toyota for producing cars they knew were defective years ago.
BEngr Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,532 Points:576,680 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 2:11:28 PM Ignore BEngr Report Abuse Toyota hasn't suffered as much at the workers who believed in the Company. Workers at the plant may be linked to some of the problems but ultimately the responsibility lies with Toyota. But if this plant built some of the vehicles included in the recall the assembly workers probably would not have discovered them. It appears that some of the recalls could be traced back to an engineering defect or component made in another plant. It's a sad day to know your job will be lost all because Toyota was more driven by profit.
TXGasPriceSpy Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:2,495 Points:466,870 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 1:22:29 PM Ignore TXGasPriceSpy Report Abuse Toyota has seen better days.
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:1,246 Points:293,355 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 1:22:25 PM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse Closing an auto plant is not good.
Hunter114 Champion Author Chicago Posts:2,808 Points:453,745 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 1:22:06 PM Ignore Hunter114 Report Abuse Always factcheck an article from the NY Slimes.
Metro Man Champion Author Flint Posts:1,832 Points:1,017,045 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 1:21:17 PM Ignore Metro Man Report Abuse Have some cheese with that whining.
geminijax Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:11,318 Points:1,724,670 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 1:14:25 PM Ignore geminijax Report Abuse I wonder if Bob Herbert attended the famous Dan Rather School of Factual Journalism!
CrazyQ Champion Author Washington Posts:16,058 Points:2,060,070 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 1:11:50 PM Ignore CrazyQ Report Abuse free market enterprise is best for the consumer? I'm sad to see Toyota having these problems, since they used to make such great cars.
Dipstick1 Champion Author Amarillo Posts:4,934 Points:1,438,190 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 1:07:49 PM Ignore Dipstick1 Report Abuse Maybe they have been over manufacturing?
us412 Champion Author Arkansas Posts:13,100 Points:1,421,435 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 1:05:13 PM Ignore us412 Report Abuse They are out of work because nobody is buying what they make... Or do you want to pay them to do nothing like in the good ole UAW days @ the Big 3???
PithyOpiner Champion Author Stockton Posts:6,526 Points:674,280 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:57:59 PM Ignore PithyOpiner Report Abuse They object to the picture of them closing a plant and putting hundreds of guys out of work in Fremont California? How do they plan on airbrushing the awful truth?
theawesome1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,465 Points:771,010 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:55:16 PM Ignore theawesome1 Report Abuse Bye Bye Japan & their Toyota. I want to live when I drive.
highdesertman All-Star Author Albuquerque Posts:563 Points:871,390 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:53:33 PM Ignore highdesertman Report Abuse I don't think that a letter to the editor is an appropriate "news" story, no matter what the subject or source. We have enough opinions on here already.
CISA Champion Author Orange County Posts:1,929 Points:645,540 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:45:36 PM Ignore CISA Report Abuse THE MORAL OF THE STORY: union wages in high cost states cost jobs
fordfan1 Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,998 Points:877,540 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:44:40 PM Ignore fordfan1 Report Abuse They could close them all as far as I am concerned. Go Ford keep up the good work and building great cars and trucks! [Edited by: fordfan1 at 3/20/2010 12:45:57 PM EST]
bluebird1 Champion Author Toronto Posts:10,524 Points:2,108,645 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:43:30 PM Ignore bluebird1 Report Abuse Doubt its been a problem from day one...however letter is right that its more expensivie & closing is really GM's fault ...not Toyota's. It a joint project & with demand down, hardly likely Toyota can take on extra volume of Matrixes (Matrices???). Also, GM had a winner in the Matrix...at least from a $4.50+/gal Cdn perspective. My next car must be functional & fuel efficient - leaving for GM the Matrix & a Saturn ...both gone from the lineup. However, expecting GM to put up add'l $280M for workers is also unlikely...it went bankrupt unlike Toyota. If they had, I'm sure public would be screaming about abuse of our taxpayers money...I know I would. Given went bankrupt, I still think the unions should have conceded something on actual salaries to help out rather than just take it from the public purse.
ajrn Champion Author Toledo Posts:9,173 Points:1,984,880 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:42:12 PM Ignore ajrn Report Abuse Go Ford! :) For the record, Ford has "partnered" with Nissan in the past (Mercury Villiager/Nissan Quest minivan), and is a part owner of Mazda.
adr47 Champion Author Saskatchewan Posts:2,231 Points:504,770 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:39:55 PM Ignore adr47 Report Abuse Toyota will be back after they clean up these messy details. They have a basically good product.
ChuckGVT Champion Author Vermont Posts:1,917 Points:696,820 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:38:20 PM Ignore ChuckGVT Report Abuse GM dropped out of that plant.
HailstormCA Champion Author San Diego Posts:3,320 Points:576,480 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:36:17 PM Ignore HailstormCA Report Abuse You build a plant like that in a high cost-of-living area and you're just asking for trouble. It's been a problem since day one. Didn't Ford own that once. I know GM was there. [Edited by: HailstormCA at 3/20/2010 12:36:48 PM EST]
nehemiah All-Star Author Portland Posts:871 Points:112,650 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:35:59 PM Ignore nehemiah Report Abuse don't know why the union is presenting it like it's Toyota's fault. if there's no demand, of course they will close down the factory. why not retrain the workers so they can better themselves and their families in other jobs instead of holding on and fighting for something that doesn't make sense? Does the union really have the worker's best interest in mind?
snewwee Champion Author Detroit Posts:4,819 Points:980,355 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:35:34 PM Ignore snewwee Report Abuse They will be back tomorrow with a vengence.
Daveyfudd All-Star Author Jackson Posts:868 Points:210,500 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:35:09 PM Ignore Daveyfudd Report Abuse Toyota is taking care of its American workers better than Govt. Motors! Sad that a foreign car company has to show us how to take care of workers.
2907 Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,389 Points:780,970 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:33:17 PM Ignore 2907 Report Abuse Might as well, demand is dropping.
Sam195 Champion Author San Bernardino Posts:3,030 Points:581,700 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:33:05 PM Ignore Sam195 Report Abuse It's expensive to do business in Cali.
Goatroper Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,870 Points:379,515 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:32:55 PM Ignore Goatroper Report Abuse I wouldn't open anything (other than an ACORN office) in the PRC. People's Republic of California
vizilo Champion Author British Columbia Posts:1,757 Points:1,799,940 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:32:45 PM Ignore vizilo Report Abuse It's just business
mooneagle Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:3,624 Points:746,540 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:32:11 PM Ignore mooneagle Report Abuse Grismer is right
AC-302 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:14,508 Points:1,909,060 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:32:10 PM Ignore AC-302 Report Abuse Toyota doesn't want the bad press. That's why they're calling that latest guy whose Prius took off a liar.
2granny Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,039 Points:450,400 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:31:48 PM Ignore 2granny Report Abuse At least Toyota is doing something for their employees while GM is doing nothing.
karmadrome Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:1,047 Points:344,240 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:31:45 PM Ignore karmadrome Report Abuse I don't know why anyone would do business in CA. Overhead is so much less in most the rest of the US.
Grismer Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo Posts:3,517 Points:729,615 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:28:09 PM Ignore Grismer Report Abuse Ask GM, who left who? This deal was done a long time ago.
Daveyfudd All-Star Author Jackson Posts:868 Points:210,500 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:27:37 PM Ignore Daveyfudd Report Abuse How about this GasBuddies: Liberal California is too expensive to build anything there. Seriously, California is one of the most expensive states to live in and run a business. Few here are looking at that variable in the equation. Liberals have jack up taxes and regulations to the point that I don't see how the poor and lower middle class can make a living there! Toyota has to survive too!
balljars Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,488 Points:692,500 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:26:29 PM Ignore balljars Report Abuse See you in court.
Jeff1944 All-Star Author South Dakota Posts:691 Points:177,425 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:25:07 PM Ignore Jeff1944 Report Abuse Isn't this a legal matter between two parties. Let them proceed.
TRAIN RIDER Champion Author San Bernardino Posts:4,096 Points:1,760,640 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:21:02 PM Ignore TRAIN RIDER Report Abuse THIS IS BECAUSE GM IS WALKING OUT ON THEIR DEAL WITH TOYOTA. BUT AT LEAST TOYOTA IS COMPENSATING PEOPLE DUE TO THE CLOSURE. GM IS JUST WALKING AWAY AND DOING NOTHING. WHERE IS OBAMA NOW TO SAY THAT ISN'T RIGHT.
egd Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,887 Points:1,299,985 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:19:23 PM Ignore egd Report Abuse all those states that offered deals aren't so happy now
investmentdr Veteran Author Cleveland Posts:421 Points:495,875 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:12:35 PM Ignore investmentdr Report Abuse Way to take care of the employees, Toyota. At least its customers get the same treatment.
uglytom Champion Author Florida Posts:2,931 Points:645,465 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:09:03 PM Ignore uglytom Report Abuse Auto industry opens them and closes them!
Jizme Champion Author Lincoln Posts:4,737 Points:1,893,465 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:07:08 PM Ignore Jizme Report Abuse whatever.
BlueVanGroup Champion Author Colorado Posts:2,087 Points:539,950 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:06:21 PM Ignore BlueVanGroup Report Abuse It was a joint venture between Toyota and GM to produce the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe. GM shut down the Pontiac brand, and Toyota didn't want to run the plant by itself. (Can't blame them--who in their right mind wants to run a plant in California when there are lower-tax right-to-work states?)
RocketmanC99 Champion Author Missouri Posts:1,250 Points:422,645 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Mar 20, 2010 12:03:22 PM Ignore RocketmanC99 Report Abuse Ok.