Photo: Toyota
Previously known as the Yaris iA, what Toyota calls Yaris in the United States is nothing more than a subcompact sedan with Mazda2 underpinnings and a starting price of $15,450.
Three trim levels are available, and for this segment, the Yaris can be had with all the bells and whistles imaginable, including Low-Speed Pre-Collision System and Active Safety System. But the thing is, the 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine isn’t up to snuff. The Nissan Versa happens to be cheaper, and considering the rising demand for SUVs and pickup trucks, Toyota isn’t selling as many Yaris models in the U.S. as expected.
Over the course of 2016 and 2017, the automaker sold 10,872 and 8,653 units in this part of the market. In October 2018, make that 207 examples of the breed, a lot fewer than the 1,486 S-Class models Mercedes-Benz sold in the same period.
Given these circumstances, Jim Lentz received notice from the higher-ups in Japan to discontinue the nameplates that aren’t doing well in the United States. The North American chief executive officer has “to restore sagging profitability to record levels” according to Automotive News, meaning that the Yaris could be on the chopping block.
The Corolla and Camry are safe, but Lexus RC sales were down 52 percent through October 2018. Even more worryingly, the Toyota 86 is running on borrowed time. There are a lot of red flags in the lineup, and the power to discontinue these underperforming nameplates lies with the high-ranking officials in Japan.
Lentz said “the Yaris doesn’t do much in the United States,” adding that he isn’t sure how important that segment is for Toyota in this part of the world. In all likelihood, the Salamanca, Guanajuato-manufactured Yaris will be discontinued towards the end of the 2019 model year.
On the flip side, Toyota still believes in conventional segments and body styles as it prepares to roll out the next generation of the Corolla Sedan on November 15th, one day before the Chinese premiere. Like the hatchback, the sedan will transition to the TNGA-C vehicle architecture and Dynamic Force engine with direct-injection technology.
Over the course of 2016 and 2017, the automaker sold 10,872 and 8,653 units in this part of the market. In October 2018, make that 207 examples of the breed, a lot fewer than the 1,486 S-Class models Mercedes-Benz sold in the same period.
Given these circumstances, Jim Lentz received notice from the higher-ups in Japan to discontinue the nameplates that aren’t doing well in the United States. The North American chief executive officer has “to restore sagging profitability to record levels” according to Automotive News, meaning that the Yaris could be on the chopping block.
The Corolla and Camry are safe, but Lexus RC sales were down 52 percent through October 2018. Even more worryingly, the Toyota 86 is running on borrowed time. There are a lot of red flags in the lineup, and the power to discontinue these underperforming nameplates lies with the high-ranking officials in Japan.
Lentz said “the Yaris doesn’t do much in the United States,” adding that he isn’t sure how important that segment is for Toyota in this part of the world. In all likelihood, the Salamanca, Guanajuato-manufactured Yaris will be discontinued towards the end of the 2019 model year.
On the flip side, Toyota still believes in conventional segments and body styles as it prepares to roll out the next generation of the Corolla Sedan on November 15th, one day before the Chinese premiere. Like the hatchback, the sedan will transition to the TNGA-C vehicle architecture and Dynamic Force engine with direct-injection technology.
Google News