Complain about a product or service

Ford Working to Unload Pickups

Toyota's Invasion of Full-Sized Pickup Truck Market Has Detroit Running Scared

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

October 4, 2006

• Auto Bailout Chief: GM's CEO Had To Go • Taxpayers Unlikely To Recover Full Auto Industry Investment • GMAC Changing Name to Ally Bank • New Car Sales Show Improvement From May • April Dismal For U.S. And Foreign Carmakers • Chrysler Files for Bankruptcy, GMAC Takes Over Financing • Auto Sales Stagnant, But Hope Appears • What Would a Chrysler Bankruptcy Mean For You? • U.S. Carmakers Getting More Federal Aid • GM Cuts More Jobs, Eyes China • New Car Sales Plunge in February • Car Buyers Seeking Higher Fuel Economy • Video: Do Women Really Hate Car Shopping? • GM Plans New Minicar, Electric Cadillac • GMAC Becomes a Bank • White House to Loan Carmakers $17.4 Billion • Chrysler Closing Car Plants for 30 Days • What Would a Washington-Designed Car Industry Look Like? • States Want Stronger Used Car Rule • Industry Troubles Cloud LA Car Show • Carmakers Get Neither Love Nor Money From Congress • Taxpayers Headed For Automotive Bailout • Time May Be Running Short for U.S. Carmakers • Feds Move Closer to Carmaker Bailout • New-Vehicle Buyers Turn to the Web in Record Numbers --- • More about Auto Sales ...

Ford Motor Co. will offer low-rate financing deals on many 2007 model-year vehicles and interest-free loans on its 2006 vehicles to boost sales.

Ford is calling the sales promotion the "Truck Month" campaign and is offering zero percent loans for 60 months on its 2006 pickups, including the F-series lineup, in an effort to clear its bloated inventory.

Ford also plans to offer a loan rate of 2.9 percent for 60 months on 2007 model year F-series Super Duty and Ranger pickups or a $2,000 cash rebate on these vehicles.

Ford has cut fourth quarter production by 21 percent to reduce swollen inventories of unsold vehicles.

Toyota has taken aim at American dominance of the U.S. truck market, introducing new Tundra and Tundra long-bed pickups.

Ford Motor, General Motors, and Dodge together hold more than 90% of the U.S. full-size truck market. The Ford F-series leads the segment with sales of 546,000 full-size trucks through August.

The new Tundra is scheduled to come to market in February and will be available in both a regular and double cab. The long-bed version features a bed that's 8 feet, 1 inch long and that is 19 inches longer than a standard bed. The Tundra has a tailgate that's lockable, removable and comes with four corner tie-downs.

Toyota will also offer a 5.7-liter V8 that can tow more than 10,000 pounds.

The full-sized pickup truck is just about the last profitable segment left to U.S. automakers.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |