Toyota Motor Corp. theoretically could shell out just one year's worth of profits to buy General Motors

[NFS4]

:shocked::shocked::shocked:

By James Treece
Automotive News / March 28, 2005

TOKYO -- If General Motors' stock continues to fall, Toyota Motor Corp. theoretically could shell out just one year's worth of profits to buy the Detroit automaker.

Toyota's market capitalization already is greater than that of GM, Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG combined. Market capitalization is the stock price times the number of outstanding shares.

GM's value continues to fall with its stock price. On March 24, GM's market capitalization was $16.6 billion. Indeed, the stock market values GM at less than Harley-Davidson Inc. It values the motorcycle maker at $17.3 billion.

Toyota expects to post operating profits of ¥1.67 trillion, or $15.69 billion at current exchange rates, in the fiscal year ending Thursday, March 31.

 

[Mill]

Yeah, but GM has debt.

 

[geno]

Hah, die GM, die.

 

[StageLeft]

They should do that, and then just for a joke and to badmouth GM's name make a bunch of crap cars and try and sell them for fun.

Oh wait...

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Originally posted by: Mill
Yeah, but GM has debt.

Easy fix... GM files BR. Toyota acquires GM after BR

It is not quite that easy, since share prices will increase dramatically following a filing of BR - usually.

 

[PricklyPete]

Yeah...why would you want to? GM has a lot of work to do to get themselves profitable and salvage some of their brands. I like what they are looking to do with their Saturn brand...but since just about everyone of their brands is associated with steep discounts...it is going to be hard to maintain a very profitable image. I honestly think I could get more off the sticker for a GM car than a Hyundai car. sad.

 

[Pepsei]

Should buy ford instead of GM.

 

[GT4]

No toy dont do it!!!! Why would they want an large crooked empire like GM to bogged them down with.

 

[acemcmac]

Originally posted by: Pepsei
Should buy ford instead of GM.

mmm.... toyota mustang.....

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
I honestly think I could get more off the sticker for a GM car than a Hyundai car. sad.

Oooh, so a cavalier might depreciate by 23% as opposed to an Accent depreciating by 24%, big whoop

 

[PingSpike]

Why would they buy GM though? That'd be like transplanting an alcoholics cancer infested liver into a healthy patient.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
They should do that, and then just for a joke and to badmouth GM's name make a bunch of crap cars and try and sell them for fun.

Oh wait...

What are you talking about...the Chevrolet Aveo is a fine automobile...

LOL. J/K.

I think GM is putting out some decent auto's. I would possible consider one down the road if they keep Lutz in charge and he keeps putting emphasis on quality design and implementation. They are not there yet by any means...but they were so low...it they have a long road to travel.

Minus a few things (styling, etc.), I was very tempted to look into a GTO not too long ago...especially for the prices they were giving them away at. Realized I needed a truck and really never bothered...but it was tempting.

And yes...I ended up buying a toyota truck.

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: acemcmac

Originally posted by: Pepsei
Should buy ford instead of GM.

mmm.... toyota mustang.....

Oh No,
please no..........

I am not a huge Ford Fan,but I do like the CrownVic,and the Mustang;
the SuperDuty 350 truck I drive at work is ok,but I would not buy one,new.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
I like what they are looking to do with their Saturn brand

BUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

Saturn has to restyle their Ion AGAIN!!!! It was new for '03 I think. Then they had to restyle it for '05. Now they have to restyle it AGAIN!!

Continuous improvement has always been a hallmark of Saturn, and for the 2006 model year things are no different. Automotive News reported earlier this year that Saturn informed retailers at the North American Dealer Association's (NADA) annual convention that both the ION and VUE will be "refreshed" for 2006 to help make them more competitive and appealing. The move comes as Saturn struggles to keep its Spring Hill plant running, and retailers battle above average vehicle inventories on their lots. Saturn has had to shutdown the plant numerous times this year because of the ION and VUE slow sales. Sources tell SaturnFans.com that the changeover to both '06 models will happen in June, a couple weeks before General Motors' annual summer shutdown in July. The models will continue to feature their trademark polymer body-side panels, and will receive Saturn's new "piano black" stereos. The new radios will feature a front facing auxiliary port that will allow drivers to plug in portable music devices, such as an iPod.

Even though the ION sedan received a host of significant interior, exterior, and chassis improvements for the 2005 model year, continued slow sales have prompted Saturn to make even more changes. On the outside, the both the ION sedan and quad coupe are expected to receive new front-end treatment that will give them more of a family resemblance to the 2007 AURA concept and SKY roadster. Under the hood, the long-rumored 170-hp 2.4L powerplant will finally be available on mid- and uplevel IONs. The 2.4L has been in production at Spring Hill for some time now, and is used in a variety of other GM vehicles.

Even bigger and more exciting changes are expected for the 2006 VUE. Like the ION, all VUEs will receive a facelift. The fascia will sport new headlamps along with AURA- and SKY-inspired front grilles. V6 powered VUEs will now feature body-color bumpers. Gray plastic bumpers will continue to be standard issue on 4-cylinder models. Base models are also said to receive a boost in performance. Today's 140-hp 2.2L motor will reportedly be replaced with the same 170-hp 2.4L 4-cylinder engine that will be used in the ION. Honda will continue to supply Saturn with 250-hp 3.5L V6 engines. The hybrid VUE is expected to be available mid-year. The VUE's interior will get a major overhaul. The instrument panel has reportedly been redesigned and will feature much richer materials along with black trim and chrome accents. The overall presentation is much more classy, upscale, and sophisticated. Taking a page from the ION Red Line, Saturn will install Recro front bucket seats in all VUE Red Lines. In addition, Red Line VUE interiors will only be offered only in one color: black.

Later in the model year, the Relay is expected to receive a more powerful, optional powerplant. At this time, its not clear what engine will be offered in the minivan. There have been rumors that all future Saturn will only feature DOHC motors, leading to speculation that General Motors new 3.6L 250-hp V6 will be made available. Other sources say that GM plans to make the 240-hp 3900 V6 an option in all of its minivans.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I would laugh my ass off if Toyota bought GM. Man, that would be funny as hell. I hope they do it. :laugh::thumbsup:

Take that all you Jap bashing domestic lovers!

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Why would they buy GM though? That'd be like transplanting an alcoholics cancer infested liver into a healthy patient.

I think they own saab which is a decent car company

 

[maziwanka]

i do hope they become smarter with their money management....

i was lucky enough to buy my car at 0% APR for 5 years with nothing down.

 

[mwtgg]

Originally posted by: Phokus

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Why would they buy GM though? That'd be like transplanting an alcoholics cancer infested liver into a healthy patient.

I think they own saab which is a decent car company

GM owns Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Daewoo, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Oldsmobile, Opel, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab, and Vauxhall.

They also have stakes in Isuzu, Subaru, and Suzuki.

 

[Emrys]

Originally posted by: Phokus

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Why would they buy GM though? That'd be like transplanting an alcoholics cancer infested liver into a healthy patient.

I think they own saab which is a decent car company

They do own Saab, and you can clearly see that GM has been slowly infecting that brand also. The "new"(rebadged sub) 9-2x doesn't even have the ignition in the traditional spot, and the 9-7 had the ignition moved to normal spot as an after thought. The quality has gone down also imo. Still a decent car, but GM hasn't done anything good to the brand to move it forward, only move it back.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: DevilsAdvocate

Originally posted by: Mill
Yeah, but GM has debt.

Easy fix... GM files BR. Toyota acquires GM after BR

It is not quite that easy, since share prices will increase dramatically following a filing of BR - usually.

the US auto industry would be so much more competitive if it went bankrupt

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
I like what they are looking to do with their Saturn brand

BUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

[/quote]

I like the Ion Redline... I got to drive one... cool car, nice feel.. just didn't like the center guages (who does)

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
I like what they are looking to do with their Saturn brand

BUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

Saturn has to restyle their Ion AGAIN!!!! It was new for '03 I think. Then they had to restyle it for '05. Now they have to restyle it AGAIN!!

I wasn't really talking about the ION...I know that thing is a piece of crap. I was more talking about the upcoming Aura and Sky... they appear to be decent contenders...of course we'll see what the final production models are like.

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I would laugh my ass off if Toyota bought GM. Man, that would be funny as hell. I hope they do it. :laugh::thumbsup:

Take that all you Jap bashing domestic lovers!

You're living in the wrong country. Japan is 5000 miles across the Pacific.

 

[preslove]

Originally posted by: maziwanka
i do hope they become smarter with their money management....

i was lucky enough to buy my car at 0% APR for 5 years with nothing down.

:shocked:

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: DevilsAdvocate

Originally posted by: Mill
Yeah, but GM has debt.

Easy fix... GM files BR. Toyota acquires GM after BR

It is not quite that easy, since share prices will increase dramatically following a filing of BR - usually.

the US auto industry would be so much more competitive if it went bankrupt

I mean hey - look at KMART.