Comments on: Why Toyota Mauritius Is Lagging Behind In Sales

By: bhoot

bhoot — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:25:36 +0000

Kia Optima is even one class higher, compares to an Avensis/Accord/Mondeo.

I don’t deny that I learned driving on a Corolla, or that it remains the world’s best selling car of all times (more than the VW Beetle).

But with cash in my hand, I’d go for a Honda, Kia or BMW 3 over a Toyota anytime. I’ll elaborate on some points I mentioned earlier

- Better engines (Honda and Kia engines are more efficient that Toyota and offer more horsepower for the same capacity e.g. 1.6L Kia is the same power as a 1.8L Civic or 1.8 Toyota Valvematic or 2.0L VVT-i). This means fuel economy too.

- Better driver involvement – you have to experience it to know the difference between a BMW 3 (best to drive), Honda (good) and Toyota/Nissan (bland feeling)

- Civic has more expensive double-wishbone suspensions that are more adapted to our roads than the cheap torsion beam in newer Corollas (not the E120). Which makes the Civic more comfortable over rough roads and humps.

- Civic/BMW 3 holds their resale value pretty well too. I expect Kia to go there in a few year too.

Like Falls said, they’re not aggressive enough on the local market…

Check out the reviews on autozine.org too.

By: harris

harris — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:32:27 +0000

With cash in your hand and a decision to take chosing from a Kia , hyundai or a Lancer: which one would you honestly take. The corolla is still THE corolla folks.Respect to the machine.

By: Torpedo

Torpedo — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:37:28 +0000

Did you have a look at the Corolla competitors: Kia Optima, Hyundai Elantra, Honda Civic, Mitsubishi Lancer (EX), Nissan Sylphy? Bein, ena bez la: tou ena pliss option ki Corolla, ek pou moins cher!!

By: bhoot

bhoot — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 07:34:21 +0000

It’s two years now, and finally, I think Toyota Mauritius have realised that they were lagging behind too much. According to AutoMoto, Toyota is now the first in sale by brand for the 4 months of 2011 (Leal is overall leader now). That comes with a 30% increase in sale, although Japanese car sales have fallen with the recent anti-radioactivity effect.

Most probably this is linked to their ads where they claim 3 year warranty – but hey that can’t compare with 7 years from KIA or 5y from Ford, Mitsubishi and Renault!

By: Falls

Falls — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:56:26 +0000

The new version of the Allion/Premio is even nicer and more corporate style.
That would indeed be a very lucrative business,guess what we could give Toyota Mauritius a run for their money!

By: Torpedo

Torpedo — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 09:29:21 +0000

Guetter enn koutt comié modèles exister: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Toyota_vehicles#
Ki-fer li pas faire enn service à-la-carte – full customisation? Non, trop difficile, trop pinerr, trop…
La-dans ena nek Vitz, Corolla 1.5, Corolla 1.6, Avensis ek Prius ki Beechand ena kass pou promote dans media… Crown, Lexus tousala mo cwar zott pas konné exister.

By: bhoot

bhoot — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 21:48:07 +0000

@Falls may be we should start a company that imports these cars from Japan. Some companies do import new cars directly (all those brand new Allion/Premio taxis that you find) e.g. GAR Co. Or partner with some other company that already has license to import these: we could do the marketing and research part…

Mark X sure looks great compared to the senile-looking Camry… I’m expecting that Toyota Mauritius is going to take 2 years to bring in the 3rd generation Yaris!

By: Falls

Falls — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 18:40:27 +0000

To concur the local market i think there are so many models that can be brought to Mauritius.
In the small car segment,the yaris/vitz is doing well,but the equipment/options are not enough.I wish the equipment was more complete.I can understand why they dont bring in the Auris,as it might steal the yaris customers.
The Auris hybrid would fit well in the segment where people cant afford a Prius.
[something to think about]

As for the Corolla with the automatic gear box,it was really a bad idea.Here we always associate the corolla with a manual gear box.Economy and reliability are qualities that are always attributed to corollas.Mauritians hate automatic gear box!
Alas the manual gear box came too late,the Mitsubishi and Honda civics were already hunting on that ground!

Something to note is that corolla has a big fan base among elderly,i mean people in their 45-50s [who swear by the rollas]. Its embodies a very good investment for so many people who think in terms of resale value,seems that toyota mauritius forgot about this.Also young people buy corollas as their first cars so that when later they sell they still want good resale value.

Mauritius being a small country/island and with the congestion of the roads i think they could also have thought about bringing in the Blade.Its a higher/upscale car which can compete with the Merc b class segment,meaning the luxurious small car segment.

Speaking of upper segment,there are cars that Toyota didnt even think about.
The new Allion/Premio.Very worthwhile bringing in,comes in many engine choices to suit different taste.
The Mark X [ there is only one in Mauritius ] i must say beautiful car,is a very good contender to steal some niche among the Honda Accord,Merc C class,Bmw 3 series segment.
Higher up again,the Crown can give a good ‘replique’ to the Bmw 5/7 series and Merc E class.

To introduce new cars a very good advertising team needs to be set up and they will need to approach the potential customers.
Aggressivity is the key,the market is there,dont ask but take it if you have the goods!

The customer care thing is something Toyota Mtius needs to work on.As soon as some potential customer walks in their showroom you hardly get anyone attending.
A person visiting the showroom needs to leave with a very good impression and always feel like coming back to buy a car.

One more thing the sales people need to work on is their knowledge regarding the product they are selling and knowledge regarding competitors products.
This impresses people.And they need to know the vehicles dynamics also.
It helps when on a test drive to be able to help the customer-to-be to understand what to look for when test driving a car.

There are so many things that can be done,but it all depends on the will to do things.

By: bhoot

bhoot — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 09:58:31 +0000

Rightly said @Falls, I drive a Toyota as well

Even BusinessWeek has written bad about the E150 4-speed auto Corolla (wow, 1.5 years after me…)

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_09/b4217021055646.htm

By: Falls

Falls — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 13:03:00 +0000

This is what happens when you get some idiot of a person with no brains at all in his skull and comes to try and act smart where a very smart discussion is taking place.
I would strongly suggest for you Johnny boy to get your brains and then come to discuss,next time you log on remember to use your head otherwise just shut up!

I agree with you bhoot,there have been a decline in the sales for toyota lately.
When i found this blog i couldnt believe it that my thoughts have been echoed so well.
Very true that toyota has get there act sorted out in order to come up again.

I am die hard toyota fan and it is really very sad to see the brand going down locally.
In fact there are many other models as you rightly pointed out that can consolidate its supremacy locally.
I only wish if they could do something.
Some analysis to come later.