[RahulNagaraj]

Toyota unveiled its new (2022) Land Cruiser 300 Series globally earlier this year. The brand's flagship SUV is said to have gotten off to a positive start in its home market of Japan, having received over 20,000 pre-orders already.



However, according to a media report, Toyota is making sure that the customers of the new Land Cruiser are not buying the LC300 for export or resale purposes. Reports suggest that Toyota has forbidden its Land Cruiser customers to sell their SUVs for a period of 12 months, after taking delivery.



Toyota will be making customers sign a contract, confirming that they agree not to resell the vehicle for the above-mentioned period. Customers failing to follow the contract will be banned from buying another Toyota. However, the duration of the ban is unknown, although reports suggest that the repercussions will be severe.



Toyota cited "risk of foreign exchange law violations and usage that could lead to major problems and threaten global security", as the reason for taking such drastic steps. Reading between the lines, Toyota could be worried about the Land Cruiser falling into the wrong hands.

Toyota is also working on providing the SUV to genuine customers who want the SUV for themselves. In order to achieve this, Toyota is said to be limiting the number of SUVs sold to a client to just one.

Source: creative11

Link to Team-BHP news

[Bibendum90949]

Originally Posted by RahulNagaraj

However, according to a media report, Toyota is making sure that the customers of the new Land Cruiser are not buying the LC300 for export or resale purposes.

Toyota cited "risk of foreign exchange law violations and usage that could lead to major problems and threaten global security", as the reason for taking such drastic steps

A car manufacturer should just focus to produce and sell cars. Forex violations, financial frauds, global security etc and other malpractices would be tackled by the country's govt and other international security agencies. I'm not getting it why would a car maker get into all these complex matters.

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

This is because Toyota had come under the criticism of UN a few years ago, who specifically pointed out that why do all the terrorist groups and insurgents in African and Middle East only use Toyota. Toyota was almost being charged at for providing cars to these organisations.

Now I get the drift. Then let me share one of their ads here.

Sharing a satirical and concocted Ad that was doing the rounds on internet since long.

[Pkumarblore]

Very strange. If it's still an SUV automobile then why are they treating it like a war tank? No doubt it may be built like one. I still can't digest the reasons given by Toyota. If the SUV is so good then they should be promoting it even more based on its merits. Why would its international sales be a threat to forex laws & global security?

[Big Smoke]

Originally Posted by Bibendum90949

A car manufacturer should just focus to produce and sell cars. Forex violations, financial frauds, global security etc and other malpractices would be tackled by the country's govt and other international security agencies. I'm not getting it why would a car maker get into all these complex matters.

This is because Toyota had come under the criticism of UN a few years ago, who specifically pointed out that why do all the terrorist groups and insurgents in African and Middle East only use Toyota. Toyota was almost being charged at for providing cars to these organisations.

While the rebels on the ground level use the old Toyotas & Mitsubishis, the higher level members almost exclusively use newer Toyota cars.
Toyota never sold these cars to them, in fact they don't even have presence in some countries. So all these cars made their way through third party distributers who bought the cars in one country, and shipped it to these war-torn countries.

It's much like how Mercedes-Benz came under heavy criticism after Kim Jong-un was spotted in a bullet-proof Mercedes S-Class.

[Miel]

Originally Posted by RahulNagaraj

Toyota cited "risk of foreign exchange law violations and usage that could lead to major problems and threaten global security", as the reason for taking such drastic steps. Reading between the lines, Toyota could be worried about the Land Cruiser falling into the wrong hands.

Is this a fallout of the following news items from years ago? Like ISIS back then ended-up with lots of Toyotas in their armed militias, is Toyota now worried that the Taliban overrunning Afghanistan will start sporting lots of spanking new Land Cruisers?


US Officials Ask How ISIS Got So Many Toyota Trucks - https://abcnews.go.com/International...ry?id=34266539

Japan’s Largest Company Is ISIS’ Car Maker of Choice - https://thediplomat.com/2015/10/japa...ker-of-choice/

[jeepster]

Originally Posted by Bibendum90949

A car manufacturer should just focus to produce and sell cars. Forex violations, financial frauds, global security etc and other malpractices would be tackled by the country's govt and other international security agencies. I'm not getting it why would a car maker get into all these complex matters.

I agree!


Is there similar resell ban to other vehicles? Hilux? 4runner? Prado?

No.

And it is ok to sell 12 month old car to ISIS or other terrorist groups in Africa or Asia?

Yes

So they are not worried about Forex violations, financial frauds, global security etc .. they just want to milk the LC brand by OVERPRICING it in African or Asian countries when ever they officially launch it !

[VKumar]

My question: Why shall we not think of it as a really smart marketing trick? One statement, and they have made half of the world sit and take notice of their trucks and SUVs, not just that, even talk about how they are so good, so rugged and so reliable that they getting into wrong hands can become a global security concern. Extremely smart IMO.

Effectively, for the sake of global security, Toyota needs to water down their quality standards!

That's going to be a fun filled B-School case study about: "Not making the cars so durable and reliable, that you may end up facing the wrath of UN".

That said, for those who don't know, there has been even a war which got famous with the name 'The Toyota War', name another company which holds such an honor.

Link: The Great Toyota War - How 400 Toyota Pickups Defeated One of Africa’s Best Equipped Militaries

Excerpt:

One of the critical parts of Chad’s war strategy was the use of Toyota Hilux and Land Cruiser that were used during the last phase of the Chadian–Libyan conflict and provided a major turning point in the war.

The first organised use of the Toyota’s was at the Battle of Fada, in January 1987. A Libyan armoured brigade was destroyed, with about 800 Libyans dead, and a large number of Soviet tanks destroyed. The military losses that Chadians faced were eighteen killed and four pickup trucks destroyed; this was a massive success for Chadians. The Chadians force’s used diversionary tactics to attack the Libyan’s, using French air support they managed to keep Libyan aircraft grounded. Then when the Chadians did attack the use of a diversionary tactic, made it appear that they were attacking from one direction. But the Chadian forces approached from another direction at high speed. This made it hard for the Libyans to target Toyota’s as they were fast and agile vehicle’s. Then the Chadians used missiles and machine guns attached to their Toyotas, destroying the Libyan forces, who were caught by surprise by the tactic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDN23Wqva4s

[Venkatesh]

Toyota issues statement about 2022 Land Cruiser resale restrictions.

"Toyota dealers and Toyota Motor Corporation share a common understanding that when selling vehicles to customers in Japan, the sale does not end, but that each dealership will continue a responsible relationship with the customer, including after-sales service, in order to protect the safety and security of the customer."

"In addition, the Land Cruiser is particularly popular overseas, and we are concerned about the flow of vehicles from Japan to overseas immediately after their release, as well as the possibility of them being exported to certain regions where security regulations are in place."

We are also aware that if the situation were to develop to the point where a Toyota dealership was to be investigated on suspicion of involvement in a violation of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law (Foreign Exchange Law), it would be a major problem not only for the Toyota dealership in question but also for all Toyota dealers and Toyota Motor Corporation."

"As a manufacturer that supplies vehicles, Toyota Motor Corporation, from the standpoint of compliance with laws and regulations, has alerted all Toyota dealers nationwide to the possibility of the above violation of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law in order to minimize the risk of legal violations."

"With this as a reference, we recognize that each dealer has made a decision from the perspective of legal compliance and has received a written pledge from the customer. These measures were taken based on the recent global situation and the characteristics of the Land Cruiser, and we believe that they do not violate the Anti-Monopoly Law."

"Toyota Motor Corporation will continue to deliver good products through its dealers and distributors around the world while complying with the laws and regulations of each country, and we ask for your understanding in this matter."

Source

[wrongturn]

Originally Posted by jeepster

I agree!


.. they just want to milk the LC brand by OVERPRICING it in African or Asian countries when ever they officially launch it !

This was the first thought that came to my mind as well. No way Toyota is worried about anything but loosing income from the overseas sales, where they would price it exorbitantly and make much more profits.

Land Cruiser doesn't bring in big sales number, it brings in fat profits. For example, how many do we have here in our country? Even if 5 of those 'rich beyond imagination' and impatient clientele of Toyota Land Cruiser would import directly from Japan (like they must've done in past, globally, hence the ban) Toyota is looking at hefty losses.

No corporate house is worried about environment, earth, nature or even lives (all life forms, animals & humans combined)! let alone War, all they care about is PROFITS! That's a bitter but sad truth.

This is unethical from Toyota IMO.

[ishan12]

Originally Posted by Bibendum90949

I'm assuming this Ad was orginal and created by Toyota itself and not the handiwork of pranksters.

Lot of satire and sarcasm. Quite sure this is a photoshopped image and not an actual Toyota ad. No global brand would dare to ever put up something like this. But it's really funny
Checkout the warranty fine print at the bottom

[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by RahulNagaraj

Reports suggest that Toyota has forbidden its Land Cruiser customers to sell their SUVs for a period of 12 months, after taking delivery.

Toyota cited "risk of foreign exchange law violations and usage that could lead to major problems and threaten global security", as the reason for taking such drastic steps. Reading between the lines, Toyota could be worried about the Land Cruiser falling into the wrong hands.

It's heartening to infer from their stance that the "wrong hands" wouldn't look at getting their hands on one after 12 months.

Even if a car were to be exported from Japan to another market (the "correct hands" type), it would be under existing export and import laws. Why does the company get to decide on this?

[padmrajravi]

This is nothing but a marketing trick. And I think it is a clever one. They have made the world notice that insurgents in tough conditions prefer a Toyota without having to advertise it. And people who smuggle Toyotas are not going to be affected by this. They will find a way and continue to smuggle them. It is not like they have many brands to choose from.

[cooldude1988765]

I think this is being done to prevent reselling at a higher cost than what Toyota charges their direct customers.
They might be anticipating higher demand than what they can produce.
I remember Ford having a similar clause for their limited production run of the new Ford GT

[LTAutoMad]

Originally Posted by Bibendum90949

I'm assuming this Ad was orginal and created by Toyota itself and not the handiwork of pranksters.

Hilarious "ad"! Of course, it is a spoof - the words make that very clear. No business, however small, let alone a huge MNC, will want to be associated with terrorists & insurgents.

-------------------------------------------

I can understand Toyota trying to prevent people making a huge profit flipping the new Landcruisers, but I don't think the threat of "never selling you another Toyota" amounts to anything - those people will be laughing at Toyota all the way to the bank.

Yes, this threat works for Ferrari "limited" editions, but that is for a small number of ultrawealthy who want to have bragging rights and can be dissuaded from selling if they won't get the next "limited" edition.
Not for a brand like Toyota that sells in millions. Just wait for the initial rush to be over & the dealers will be back to discounts & deals in no time.

Even the so-called "limited" editions from Ferrari & Porsche have lost their old lustre as they keep on bringing them out regularly - so the exclusivity is gone.

[Asoon]

I smell a new marketing gimmick here, seems like a hook to get people talk about this new absurd rule and the new flagship model.

There is no way militants will go for the latest model for field job for which restrictions are on. I toyota genuinely wants to pass business from these type of sources then there are other better ways to control. Doing a PR for your flagship model doest not solve anything.