Free Essay

Toyota

In:

Submitted By cwoharris
Words 937
Pages 4
Case Assignment Analysis
MRKT 5000 Online Course

Toyota Uses Advertising to Restore Trust

Case Summary:

For decades Toyota had been known for its commitment to reliability and quality however during a two year time frame as Toyota was coming off of becoming the top auto manufacturer in the world they were also hit with massive recalls. Recalls pointing toward safety concerns such as braking systems and acceleration problems began to tarnish Toyota’s reputation that had taken decades to build causing concerns for shareholders and stakeholders alike. Toyota had to pull its ad campaign focusing on safety and dependability and create a new campaign to deal directly with the problem admitting they had strayed from quality amid high sales. Pairing this marketing campaign with sales incentives, maintenance programs, and ads designed to target and segment the market Toyota is once again growing seeking to reclaim the top spot which had been taken over by General Motors.

Key Marketing Issues

• Advertising Campaign – The creation and execution of a series of advertisements to communicate with a particular target audience. In this case the campaign had many specific targets in mind. Not only was the general public targeted to be reassured regarding safety concerns but minorities were targeted as they were the primary purchasers of Toyotas and African Americans were targeted in order to generate higher sales of hybrid vehicles.
.
• Target Audience – A group of people at whom advertisements are aimed. In Toyotas case certain adds targeted minorities as they were the top purchaser of the vehicle prior to the recalls. Other ads targeted African Americans to increase their purchasing of hybrid vehicles.

• Advertising Platform – Basic issues or selling points to be included in an advertising campaign. Toyota chose to address the lack in safety in some ads and in other adds highlight an African American family buying a hybrid in order to promote hybrid sales to a specific demographic.

• Public Relations- Communication efforts used to create and maintain favorable relations between an organization and its stakeholders. Toyota created an entire ad campaign to counter negative press, admitting a stray from quality in order to regain a favorable relationship with not only the public but company stakeholders as well.

• Publicity- A news story type of communication about an organization and/or its products transmitted through a mass medium at no charge. Toyota received plenty of free publicity regarding negative aspects of their product pertain to safety, dependability, and reliability.

Personal Case Analysis

Seeing Toyota in the media daily for over a year regarding the failure of various components of their cars such as brakes and acceleration and to have a company finally do the right thing and be forward about their issue is refreshing. All too often and what seems to be more and more car companies lately, is the practice of pushing the blame on to another company or maker of the specific components. For Toyota to come out, even if it was for personal gain and admit the problem and emphasize that corrective actions were being made gives the consumer a renewed sense of faith in the company and confidence in purchasing their product.

Case Questions

1. How is Toyota using advertising to overcome negative publicity associated with a product quality Issue? Toyota chose to create an ad campaign that address the problem and cleanly admit to overlooking quality creating a positive image through honesty. 2. Why did Toyota have to pull advertising for its cars' dependability, safety, and reliability during a time when it was getting so much public attention for safety recalls related to sudden acceleration? Toyota chose to pull the ads highlighting safety, dependability, and reliability due to all the media attention being focused on the lack of safety and dependability. Having the ads run at a time when the truth was in fact the opposite casts the company in a negative light, Toyota having a reputation of the exact opposite chose to create a campaign pointing out the problems and focus on correcting it. 3. What can Toyota do going forward to restore it image? I think that Toyota has already begun the process of restoring its image. Too often companies choose to blame someone else such is the case with Ford and Firestone, or refuse any liability such as Takata airbags. Toyota in this case chose to admit where they had strayed. Going forward Toyota can continue to restore their image by being on top of problems and getting in front of them rather than to allow them to snowball out of control. Toyota can also go back to its belief and practice of producing a quality product and the results will show.

Conclusions

By facing a problem head on and creating an ad campaign to address it rather than pushing blame onto others or avoiding the problem all together Toyota weathered a series of recalls related to quality and safety issues with some of their most popular models. By creating an advertising platform that not only addressed the public concerns but emphasized corrective action public opinion began to change. By taking their marketing campaign a step further and identifying a target markets such as minorities and African Americans Toyota designed target ads to increase sales within certain demographics and model types such as the Toyota Prius.

Works Cited

Liker, J. (2010, January 28). Toyota's Lost Its Quality Edge? Not So Fast. Retrieved February 21, 2015, from http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jan2010/db20100128_907800.htm

Takeuchi, H. (2008, June 1). The Contradictions That Drive Toyota's Success. Retrieved February 21, 2015, from https://hbr.org/2008/06/the-contradictions-that-drive-toyotas-success

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Toyota

...& Recommendations | 10 | 7 | Bibliography | 14 | INTRODUCTION Toyota Motor Corporation, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. In 2010, Toyota Motor Corporation employed 317,734 people worldwide, and was the world's largest automobile manufacturer by production. The company was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda in 1937 as a spinoff from his father's company Toyota Industries to create automobiles. TMC is part of the Toyota Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the world. It created its first product, the Type A engine, and, in 1936, its first passenger car, the Toyota AA. Toyota Motor Corporation group companies are Toyota (including the Scion brand), Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino Motors, along with several "non-automotive" companies. Sakichi Toyoda invented the Toyoda Model G Automatic Loom in 1924 incorporated the principle of Jidoka, which means that the machine automatically stops itself when a problem occurs, later becoming a part of the Toyota Production System. RESEARCH PROBLEM: Toyota has long been recognized as an industry leader in manufacturing and production. Toyota's management philosophy has evolved from the company's origins and has been reflected in the terms "Lean Manufacturing" and Just In Time Production, which was instrumental in developing Toyota's managerial values and business methods collectively known as the Toyota Way. In 2010, the Toyota Motor Corporation ranked first by the International Organization of Motor...

Words: 3481 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Toyota

...Michael Greto Andreas Schotter Mary Teagarden Toyota: The Accelerator Crisis The root cause of their problems is that the company was hijacked, some years ago, by anti-family, financially oriented pirates. Jim Press, former President & Chief Operating Officer (COO) Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. On February 24, 2010, Akio Toyoda, the grandson of Toyota Motor Corporation’s founder, Kiichiro Toyoda, endured a grueling question-and-answer session before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The committee represented just one of three Congressional panels investigating the 2009-2010 recall of Toyota vehicles related to problems of sudden acceleration and the company’s delay in responding to the crisis. Signs of the coming recall crisis began as early as 2006 when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into driver reports of “surging” in Toyota’s Camry models. The NHTSA investigation was closed the next year, citing no defects. Over the next four years, Toyota, known in the industry for its quality and reliability, would quietly recall nearly nine million Toyota and Lexus models due to sudden acceleration problems. Toyota’s leadership, widely criticized for its slow response in addressing the problems, now had to move quickly to identify a solution that would ensure the safety of its vehicles, restore consumer confidence, protect the valuable Toyota brand, and recoup a plummeting share price....

Words: 13407 - Pages: 54

Premium Essay

Toyota

...Assignment 2: Toyota BUSI2701H Name: Ronnel Belda Student CUID: 100847861 Executive Summary: With thorough understanding of the benefits and cost involved in allowing Toyota to operate in the country, it is apparent that the company should be permitted to expand in the country. This proposal was based on the numerous benefits that exceed the risks associated with the operation. These benefits include the mass production that will upsurge the country’s export and employment, and help produce supporting industries. In 2012, Toyota manufactured 9.75 million vehicles1. In addition, Toyota’s large sales will generate high tax revenue. In 2012, Toyota’s net revenue was $226,106 million2. Moreover, Toyota provides training to individuals that will improve the country’s level of knowledge. Furthermore, Toyota’s competitiveness will influence its rivals to operate in the same country. In addition, Toyota also operates in non-automotive business. Lastly, Toyota can improve its products and services in the country. Company Description: Toyota Motor Corporation, established by Kiichiro Toyota in 1937, is a Japan-based automaker company headquartered in Toyota, Aichi, Japan3. The company offers various types of vehicles such as sedans, minivans, 2BOX cars, sport-utility vehicles, and trucks, as well as car related parts and accessories. Moreover, Toyota extends its corporation to non-automotive business, including housing, financial services, communications...

Words: 3251 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Toyota

...Management On Toyota Multan Motors [pic] Topic: Employee Monitoring Submitted to: Prof. Aysha Ghias Submitted by: Syed Ali Kamran Abidi. Roll no. 50 Mirza Ali Raza. Roll no. 90 M. Jaffar Tayar. Roll no. 48 Syed Hussain Zain ul abiden. Roll no. 85 Punjab Groups of Colleges [pic] TABLE OF CONTENTS [pic] Chapter no. 1 Topics Page a) Introduction to Organization. 3- 5 b) Mission Statement. 6 c) Vision Statement. 7- 8 d) History of Organization. 9-26 e) Duration of Operation. 27 f) Location of organization. 28 g) Organization’s Various Department. 29 h) Organizational Hierarchy. 30 [pic] The Toyota Motor Corporation, or simply called Toyota is a Japanese multinational corporation and the world's second largest automaker that manufactures automobiles, trucks, buses and robots and the world's eighth largest company. The company's headquarters are in Toyota, Aichi, Japan with factories and offices around the world. Toyota Motor Co. was established as an independent company in 1937. Although the founding family name is Toyoda, the company name was changed in order to signify the separation of the founders' work life from home life, to simplify the pronunciation, and to give the company a happy beginning. Toyota is considered...

Words: 5507 - Pages: 23

Premium Essay

Toyota

...Toyota and its component suppliers Assessment 3 [pic] Cai Ruodan 4398397 06/11/2013 1.0 Introduction Toyota Motor Corporation is a Japanese automaker, which is founded by Kiichiro Toyoda in 1937 as a spinoff from his father’s company Toyota Industries to create automobiles. In March 2013, it was reported as the thirteenth-largest company in the world by revenue. The brand that it created like Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino Motors were famous in the world. And TMC is part of the Toyota Group, which is one of the largest conglomerates in the world. Toyota puts ‘high quality’ as their principal. Its commitment is that ‘Nothing is so good that it cannot be made better’. Toyota has taken an integrated approach to “making better cars” and providing “better services” with many business partners including suppliers and dealers. It puts high quality as its principal; it would not easily to accept an inexpensive unless such price is based on reasonably cost with its quality. And it seeks to contribute to society by providing customers with the most attractive products in the most timely manner (Toyota, 2013). The high quality car of Toyota leads to less maintenance and give its users more safety and wonderful driving experience inspire me to focus on the relationship between Toyota and its component suppliers. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how Toyota maintains good relationship with its 200 component suppliers. In this paper, it will according to the quality...

Words: 1253 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Toyota

...UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI PROJECT REPORT ON MARKETING STRATEGIES & PLANS OF TOYOTA MOTORS BY MR. JITEN H MENGHANI ROLL NO 32 M.COM. (PART-1) ACADEMIC YEAR 2013-2014 PROJECT GUIDE PROF. MRS N.A. NERURKAR PARLE TILAK VIDYALAYA ASSOCIATION’S M.L.DAHANUKAR COLLEGE OF COMMERCE DIXIT ROAD, VILE PARLE (EAST) MUMBAI-400 057   DECLARATION I, MR. JITEN H MENGHANI OF PARLE TILAK VIDYALAYA ASSOCIATION’S, M.L.DAHANUKAR COLLEGE OF COMMERCE of M.COM (PART-1) (Semester-2) hereby Declare that I have completed this project on MARKETING STRATEGIES & PLANS OF TOYOTA MOTORS in The Academic year 2013-2014. The information Submitted is true & original to the best of knowledge. ----------------------- (Signature of student) JITEN.H.MENGHANI   ACKNOWLEGEMENT To list who all have helped me is difficult because they are so numerous and the depth is so enormous. I would like to acknowledge the following as being idealistic channels and fresh dimensions in the completion of this project I take this opportunity to thank the University of Mumbai for giving me chance to do this project. I would like thank my Principal, Dr. Madhavi.S.Pethe for providing the necessary facilities required for completion of this project. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude towards my project guide PROF. MRS N.A. NERURKAR whose guidance and care made the project successful. ...

Words: 9857 - Pages: 40

Free Essay

Toyota

...Opportunities of Toyota Company The first opportunity that Toyota Company having is increasing demand for Hybrid Electric Vehicle. A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is combining a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) propulsion system with an electric propulsion system to produce a type of hybrid and electric vehicle. The demand for HEV will be increase due to the rising energy costs and increased emissions regulations. The engines of hybrid also more fuel efficient and less polluting compare with the conventional gasoline and diesel engines. Production volume will increase due to the cost disparities between HEVs and conventional light vehicles. The primary markets of the Hybrid Electric Vehicle which is United States, Western Europe and Japan also expected to experience relatively strong demand forthese fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles. Toyota Motor is targeted with the growth of demand for hybrid electric vehicles. They were spending a lot of money for the development of hybrid vehicle. The Toyota Motor’s hybrid vehicle sales in 2008 are higher than their expectation. After that, the Toyota Company toward this development such as scheduling to launch the iQ ultra-efficient package vehicle in Japan and Europe. Toyota Company is focusing with the hybrid technology to capitalize on the position market trends in this segment to enhance its market position. The second opportunity of Toyota Company is they having the opportunities in Asian market....

Words: 616 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Toyota

...workforce------------------------------------------------3 2. Recruiting in Toyota-----------------------------------------------------------------3 2.1 Explanation and elaboration of recruiting----------------------------------------3 2.2 The recruitment of Toyota---------------------------------------------------------5 Selection in HRM--------------------------------------------------------------------5 3.1 Explanation of selection------------------------------------------------------------5 3.2 Toyota’s selecting-------------------------------------------------------------------6 Training and development in Toyota----------------------------------------------7 4.1 Explanation of training and development-----------------------------------------7 4.2 Toyota’s training and development------------------------------------------------8 Conclusion-----------------------------------------------------------------------------9 Human resources management in Toyota Introduction of Toyota’s development. Toyota motor corporation was found in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyota. It is headquartered in Toyota City in Japan. Toyota was the largest automobile manufactures in 2012 and was the first one reached to millions and more production of vehicles world. A total sold of 9.73 million vehicles and in 2012 and was 10.133 million. Among them China and US are bigger marketing. In addition, Toyota has 51 cooperation in 27 countries inside and it...

Words: 2771 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Toyota

...Toyota was established in 1937 in Japan. First time it introduced its product Corona in the US in 1965. By the 70’s, Toyota was the best-selling import brand in the US. During the 80’s, it started manufacturing vehicles in the US. In 2006, it had globally become the second largest car seller and third largest car sellers in the US having more than fifteen percent market share. This profound success of Toyota is associated with its most proficient market strategy. The case of Toyota notably proves that how important is market strategy in the life of a company to be a market leader. Today, Toyota’s mission statement is as follows: ““To sustain sustainable growth by providing the best customer experience and dealer support.” (Toyota, 2007). Customer satisfaction is the driving force for Toyota, which inspires it to provide the highest quality products and services. “Kaizen” is a word that Toyota upholds, which means “continuous improvement” of its technology, products, and services. In short, Kaizen for customer satisfaction is Toyota’s mission. Toyota further explains its mission as follows: “around here our values are just like yours. We are hard working. We are active in community. We are creating jobs. We celebrate our diversity. We are building cleaner greener cars. And this is just the beginning.” (Toyota, 2007) In 2001, Toyota redesigned its best selling car Camry and replaced its sign off from 'Toyota everyday' to 'get the feeling'. Toyota now believed that it is not...

Words: 388 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Toyota

...History And Background The Toyota Motor Corporation started with humble beginnings. Kiichiro Toyoda in 1933 visited the United States and several automobile plants. He returned to Japan and started an automobile division in his father's loom factory. General Motors and Ford had already established automobile plants in Japan but this did not stop Toyoda. Toyota Motor Corporation was founded August 28, 1937. In the year 2000, Toyota was the world's third largest car company and the largest car company in Japan. The current president of Toyota is Akio Toyoda. Toyota maintains a 9.8 percent share of the automobile global marketplace. Japan itself, has very few natural resources, which prompted the Toyota Motor Corporation to develop fuel-efficient vehicles. Change in political environment in Japan, prompted Japanese auto manufacturers to rely on new technologies to guarantee success in the industry such as the birth of the small car. While other countries concentrated on large, luxury vehicles, Japanese manufactures were busy focusing on building small, fuel-efficient vehicles that would grow to dominate the automotive industry. Political unrest can lead to military action and wars, which make materials needed for car manufacture difficult to find. Such was the situation Toyota Motor Company faced during Word War II, when a crippled Japanese economy forced the company to start building 'recycled' vehicles. Corporations must also comply with the laws of trade both nationally...

Words: 508 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Toyota

...TOYOTA MOTORS COMPANY CORRIENTES DE LA ADMINISTRACION POR: FERNANDO PEREZ MARTINEZ SAMAEL GALVAN RODRIGUEZ UNIVERSIDAD INTERAMERICANA PARA EL DESARROLLO UNID PROYECTO FINAL 1 DE ABRIL DEL 2013 INTRODUCCIÓN GIRO Toyota Motors Company es una empresa con giro manufacturero, basado especialmente en el ámbito automotriz. Dedicado también a la venta de sus automóviles como materia procesada y producto terminado. En ciertos lugares, como México, también realiza la compra de automóviles usados para dar una mayor facilidad de adquisición al cliente. MISIÓN Ofrecer a nuestros clientes automóviles de la prestigiada marca Toyota. Basada en una entrega de calidad, seguimiento de postventa y servicio de calidad a precios adecuados, para la satisfacer las necesidades del cliente con un respaldo tecnológico y de calidad, logrando al mismo tiempo una rentabilidad para nuestros accionistas. VISIÓN Tenemos líderes en cada uno de nuestros puestos para la plena satisfacción de nuestros clientes. Somos una empresa enfocada al servicio, por lo que innovamos constantemente para exceder los estándares establecidos. Nuestra visión es a largo plazo, ya que la relación con nuestros clientes no termina con la venta de un automóvil, justamente en ese momento es cuando comienza VALORES Algunos de los principales valores que la empresa pide a sus empleados: • Honestidad: Actuamos con rectitud e integridad, manteniendo un trato equitativo con todos nuestros...

Words: 6069 - Pages: 25

Free Essay

Toyota

...Toyota  Elaborado por: (A.E.LJ)  Historia  Una compañía vigorosa y con raíces sólidas. Como muchas otras compañías que han dejado una huella en la historia, Toyota ha sido conformada sobre la base de un conjunto de valores y principios que tienen sus raíces en los orígenes de la empresa en Japón.  La historia de Toyota comienza a fines del siglo XIX, cuando Sakichi Toyoda inventa el primer telar automático, que revoluciona la industria textil del país. Impulsado por el éxito de sus telares, en 1907 funda la empresa Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, convirtiéndose en un fabricante líder. Al día de hoy, Toyota es el segundo fabricante mundial de automóviles en unidades vendidas y en ventas netas. Es de lejos el mayor fabricante japonés de vehículos, produciendo más de 4.5 millones de vehículos por año, lo que equivale a uno cada seis segundos. En el tiempo que le llevará leer estas líneas habremos producido al menos tres o cuatro vehículos más  Entre sus estrategias de producto que Toyota ofrece a sus clientes están:  1. Desarrollar autos globales y regionales para competir en todo el mundo con una línea completa de productos. Se lograrán las metas con una combinación de kaizen (mejoramiento continuo) y kakushin (innovación radical), y la visión para el futuro es el auto de ensueño, un vehículo que: limpia el aire, evita accidentes, promueva la salud, genera entusiasmo y de menor consumo.  2. Atractivo de los productos  • Con el espíritu de crear grandes vehículos, mejorar...

Words: 644 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Toyota

...case of Toyota recall By Daniel Opoku Abstract Purpose: the main purpose of this study is to find out about the recalls of Toyota vehicles which lead to the death of some innocent lives. The recall was due to unintended acceleration. Toyota ultimately recalled millions of its cars for floor mat issues, brake problems and "sticky" gas pedals. Methodology: Data was collected online, by the help of some selected search engines. Information was collected from Toyota’s national website as well as other private sites. Findings/results: Most organization should seek for customers or consumer’s satisfaction rather than targeting of making high profit. Arrogance and choosing to ignore quality warnings when failures begin to happen is also a problem facing most organization. Implications: Companies or organizations should design and manufacturing information and traceability data that can be shared with suppliers for effective root cause analysis. Paper type: case study Keywords: recall, unintended acceleration, floor mat, sticky gas pedals. Introduction Toyota has long been recognized as seventh largest company in the world and the second largest manufacturer of automobiles, with production facilities in 28 nations around the world (Toyota Assembly and part, 2011). As been the world third largest manufacturer of automobiles in unit sales and in net sales, Toyota has also created good customer relationship and provides customers with the products they need. Toyota Motor Company...

Words: 2332 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Toyota

...Michael Greto Andreas Schotter Mary Teagarden Toyota: The Accelerator Crisis The root cause of their problems is that the company was hijacked, some years ago, by anti-family, financially oriented pirates. Jim Press, former President & Chief Operating Officer (COO) Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. On February 24, 2010, Akio Toyoda, the grandson of Toyota Motor Corporation’s founder, Kiichiro Toyoda, endured a grueling question-and-answer session before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The committee represented just one of three Congressional panels investigating the 2009-2010 recall of Toyota vehicles related to problems of sudden acceleration and the company’s delay in responding to the crisis. Signs of the coming recall crisis began as early as 2006 when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into driver reports of “surging” in Toyota’s Camry models. The NHTSA investigation was closed the next year, citing no defects. Over the next four years, Toyota, known in the industry for its quality and reliability, would quietly recall nearly nine million Toyota and Lexus models due to sudden acceleration problems. Toyota’s leadership, widely criticized for its slow response in addressing the problems, now had to move quickly to identify a solution that would ensure the safety of its vehicles, restore consumer confidence, protect the valuable Toyota brand, and recoup a plummeting share price....

Words: 13407 - Pages: 54

Premium Essay

Toyota

...MARKETI NG Toyota may have obtained its slart in car manufacture by being a fast follower, but it is now the innovator. In 1936, Toyota admitted following Chrysler's iandmark Airflow and patterning its engrne after a 1933 Chevrolet engine, But by 2000, when Toyota introduced the first hybrid petrol/electric car, the Prius, Toyota was the leader, ln 2002, when the second-generation Prius hit showrooms, dealers received I0000 orders before the caT was even available, General Motors followed with an announcement that it would enter the hybrid market with models of its own, Toyota offers a full line o{ cars, from family sedans to 4WDs to trucks t0 minivans, Toyota also has products for different pr ce points, from the lower-cosi Yaris to mid'priced Camrys to the luxury Lexus, Designing these different products means lrstenrng to different customers, building the cars they r,vant and then crafiing the marketing to reinforce each make's image. For exampie, Toyota spent four years carefully listening to teens before developing the Scion brand, aimed at 1 firstlime car buyers in the luYtiil'.i US market, lt learned, for instance, that Scion's target age group of 6-21 -year-olds wanted personalisation. To meet that preference, Toyota builds the car'mono-spec' at the factory with just one wellequipped trim level, but lets customers at dealerships choose from more than 40 customisation elements, from stereo components to wheels and even floor mats. Toyota markets...

Words: 937 - Pages: 4