Now, when you think of Venezuela, many things come to mind, and one of them is President Hugo Chávez. Known for his strict economic policies, Mr. Chávez has nationalized many industries, such as its oil production, but could Venezuela’s international auto industry be next? This week, Mr. Chávez has made threats towards many automotive companies, including Toyota, which could lead to their nationalization.

One of Hugo Chávez’s main concerns is the sharing of new technology with the residents of Venezuela. Most residents of the South American nation live in rural areas, so their best mode of transportation would be all terrain vehicles. Mr. Chávez believes that many of the best vehicles that Toyota produces are not being produced in their Venezuelan factory, and this is an issue for Chávez. If he finds, after an extensive inspection, that the factory is not producing the newest technology available, Mr. Chávez is threatening to nationalize the factory and then sell it to a Chinese company.

If the Venezuelan Toyota branch is lost, the company in general will be little affected. In Venezuela, Toyota sells approximately 30,000 vehicles a year, and they are still at a lower price than the national average. Compared to the nine million vehicles sold in 2008, Venezuela is not what you would say a “hard hitter” for Toyota.

Toyota is not the only car manufacturer who is having their production inspected. Others who are being threatened by the Venezuelan government are Chrysler Group LLC, and General Motors Co.

While Toyota is attempting to compromise with Mr. Chávez, there really isn’t enough business in Venezuela for them to invest transferring the newest technology. Realistically, even the most inexpensive vehicles are mostly too expensive for the everyday citizen in developing countries. That said, Toyota has mentioned beginning development of a “New Compact Car” aimed at developing countries such as Brazil and India, and is slated for release in 2010. It would be a basic car, without all the extras, that would make the NCC extremely inexpensive.

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Ok, so Johnny’s got a soccer game at 3:30, Jenny has choir rehearsal at 4, and you have to pick them both up by 5:30 to make it to Josh’s band concert at 6. If there was ever a need for a new, modern, and comfortable minivan, now is the time.

Say hello to the 2011 Toyota Sienna, newly announced by Toyota at the Los Angeles Auto Show. With a newly designed body shape and interior design, it will be a needed revamp of the 2004 second-gen Sienna. Tons of new modern features, including comfortable second row seats with newly added footrests, add that extra level of comfort for the family. Other optional features have been revealed; a widescreen DVD player capable of two inputs simultaneously, and a tinted sunroof can definitely pass the time on a long trip. Also, as with the current Sienna, we can expect a powerful engine that will give it an edge on the rest of the competition.

Sounds good, Right? Well, the Sienna isn’t perfect. One of the biggest complaints from former models is that the look is somewhat boring. Personally, I think the Sienna is designed to be a “Man’s Van” and for that purpose it get’s the job done. Its got the Toyota Toyota parts, Toyota accessories, and everything in between to make your minivan experience comfortable. Plus, recently released pics of the model give it a more modern and smooth look, which I love. The new model is projected to hit the nearest Kansas City Toyota Dealer in February of 2010, so keep an open eye out for the next level in Toyota minivans!

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Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. is instructing dealers to attach floor mats to seat frames on the driver’s side of select vehicles with self-locking wire ties to prevent the mats from snagging on gas pedals and causing unintended acceleration.

Toyota Motor Sales began sending out instructions about the fix to its regional sales offices on Thursday, Oct. 1. Regional personnel began distributing the information to dealers the next day.

He says the mats are to be secured to the driver’s seat frame with nylon self-locking wire ties, described as plastic straps that loop back into themselves and lock when pulled tight. Dealers also are to attach a label to the wire tie warning dealers and customers to ensure that these  Toyota accessories are secured with restraining straps. Toyota vehicles involved are 2007-10 Camrys, 2005-10 Avalons, 2004-09 Priuses, 2005-10 Tacomas and 2007-10 Tundras.

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Toyota Motor Coorperation’s Japanese customers wait eight months to buy a Prius hybrid car, may avoid longer delays in the future thanks to Panasonic Coopreration’s pending takeover of Sanyo Electric..

As demand grows for electric and gasoline-electric hybrid cars, a shortage of the batteries used in the vehicles may force automakers to compete for supply. Toyota, which aims to offer hybrid versions of all its models sometime after 2020, may find it easier to do so after its partner Panasonic makes Sanyo a back-up plan.

Government rebate programs encouraging customers to trade in old vehicles for more fuel-efficient ones (the CARS program) have added to the demand that’s forcing customers to wait for their Priuses. Toyota registered 77,000 new Prius cars in between May and the end of August, compared with a monthly sales target of 10,000. In the U.S., new sales of the model rose more than 20 percent to about 62,000 in the four months to September. Batteries and other Toyota parts should have sped up production by 2011, putting more and more hybrids on the highway

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Toyota announced that it currently has no plans to make a Yaris hybrid, stating that the hybrid system would be difficult to place in smaller cars and that since Yaris is already fuel-efficient, any gain would be indifferent.

This statement has initial reports that the Yaris hybrid would begin production in France and in Japan and would go on sale within two years. Toyota clarifies that it plans to have a hybrid option available in every model by 2020, but the efficiency of small engines means a full Prius-style hybrid system is unlikely to feature in small cars like the Yaris anytime soon. While Toyota is on course to sell one million hybrids worldwide within the next few years, Yaris, along with other small cars, wouldn’t get its hybrid version any time soon. It will probably be when when battery efficiency increases. Stop-start technology is already available in the Yaris. Toyota confirmed earlier this month that the Auris hybrid will be built in the UK, with production starting in 2010.

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The newly appointed Toyota team is here to make changes that will affect all Toyota dealers in the future. The changes are to make the dealers more successful in the business and to create a more efficient profit.

One of these changes include cutting than lineup. Small Cars are becoming more and more popular, and the bigger vehicles are becoming obsolete. Throwing out the bigger models that don’t match local demand will cut down expenses. The third generation Prius price is dropping to stay competitive with Honda’s Insight.

Toyota isn’t planning on closing its factories to cut costs. They plan on slowing down production times, overtime, and shift work while making genuine Toyota parts and cars.

With these small changes, Toyota is projecting a recovery in two or three years.

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Acording to the Wall Street Journal, Toyota plans to have 100 eco-friendly dealerships across the country by 2011. The design of the dealership will be simler to the Lafontaine Automotive Group in Highland, Michigan, which has contributed 15 million into becoming a greener dealership.

The Lafontaine Automotive Group lubricates the hydrolic lifts in their shop with vegetable oil. They light the building with sky lights, and the doors are made of pressed corn. The water in the car wash is recycled and reused, and the geothermal heating keeps the temperature stable. People working in the dealership will wear organic cotton shirts.

The first fully green dealership is planned to open sometime in the next month. Im sure they will all be stocked with genuine toyota parts.

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When the Toyota Supra ceased being sold at Toyota dealers in the U.S. in 1999, fans everywhere mourned the loss of the iconic sports car. Originally a longer wider Toyota Celica with genuine Toyota parts, the Supra quickly gained a style of its own that built a wide fan base and became popular in videogames, movies, TV shows, and even music videos.

For years rumors have been passed about that this once great car will be reintroduced to American consumers. The upcoming announcement of the Toyota FT-HS (Future Toyota-Hybrid Sport) has led many to speculate that this will be the latest incarnation of the Supra brand.

According to the rumors, the Supra will be available with a V6 (340hp) or a V8 (450hp) engine. The expected price of the car is between $40,000 and $50,000.

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Toyota has yet again proven their commitment and dedication to creating highly efficient, environmentally friendly cars with excellent Toyota parts. In this year’s Green Book’s “The Best Of” list, published by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Toyota placed in more categories than any other car brand.

Of the fourteen categories judged at the event, eight included Toyota vehicles and five of those were number-one positions. The vehicles ranked first included the Prius, the Corolla, the Yaris, the Tacoma, and the Sienna.

Toyota also has more cars on “The Greenest Vehicles of 2008″ list and the “Greener Choices of 2008″ list than any other automaker.

There is no doubt that in the coming years Toyota will continue to remain the greenest automaker in the country.

Find out more about the Green Book and greener cars.

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The all new 2010 Toyota Sequoia SR5 4 x 2 model will feature a new 4.6 liter i-FORCE V 8 engine.  When compared to the previous engines this engine delivers 34 more horsepower with a preliminary EPA fuel efficiency rating of 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway, which in turn provides up to two more miles per gallon for 4 x 2 models on the highway.  The 5.7 liter i-FORCE V 8 engine comes standard on all Limited and Platform models.  Both engines are matted to a six-speed automatic transmission.  Remember these are all made from Genuine Toyota Parts so they are built to last.

With gas prices they way they are, getting more out of a gallon of gas is wonderful news.

For the new safety features all 2010 Toyota Sequoia models come standard with driver and front passenger side knee airbags.  Standard audio upgrades include Bluetooth, satellite radio capability, and MP3 interface with an auxiliary audio jack and USB port.

The new features are great for safety and the additions to the audio upgrades are wonderful for the people on the go.

And for the exterior they have come up with three new colors to please the eye, the new colors are Sandy Beach Metallic, Spruce Mica and Blizzard Pearl.

Come see what all of the Toyota owners mean when they say they will never buy another brand again.  Stop by your local Toyota dealer for more information on how you can own one of these beautiful SUV’s.

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