Toyota’s accelerator pedal recall woes are pretty big news in the States. GM, Ford and Hyundai are really kicking them while they are down by offering up to $1,000 cash incentives to those who trade in their Toyotas.
However, according to BusinessWeek’s Moon Ihlwan, Hyundai’s aggressive growth plans put’s said automaker in similar peril because undercontrolled growth can cause hiccups in quality, something that will certainly affect their momentum.
In other Hyundai related news, they are planning at least six Super Bowl commercials. Some of the commercials will feature Brett Favre and will play on his often flip flopping ways when it comes to retirement.






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there’s never any mercy when it comes to business; you gotta kick ‘em while they’re done. when starbucks closed for an hour, what did dunkin doughnuts do? free coffee for everyone.
I think peril is the word you ought to have used.
“Keep driving your Toyoya.”
Possibly the worst thing you can say to owners while the problem remains unsolved.
As far as I know, the current Toyota recall is related to issues with the ACCELERATOR pedal, not the brake pedal.
Toyota’s saying it’s the accelerator pedal. But LA Times is reporting that may not be the problem. The problem could be in the electronic system that controls the accelerator pedal.
Toyota said it was the mat that was causing it, they did a massive recall. Now they’re saying it’s the pedal. They’ve done another massive recall.
If this problem doesn’t get solved with the latest recall, and they have to do another massive recall in the future, then that could just about finish them off.
The wrath against Toyota started with the Youtube videos of the California cop and his family in the Lexus careening out of control, while calling 911. I think their death heard on Youtubes has had a profound impact in the minds of the public, that made Toyota finally get off its ass and try to do something.
It just tells you how powerful the tool of the internet and the youtubes are, in shaping people’s opinions and spreading information (or misinformation).
Fixed and fixed. Thanks seouldout and huey222.
You can hear my fiancee’s violin in the Hyundai Super Bowl commercial.
AAK,
Remember… we are all tired of hearing about your fiancee!
Oh btw… I think I saw your fiancee in NY when I was there a couple of weeks ago… tall and athletic Korean gal right? Yeah, I think I heard her fart in the elevator…
On non-related (to this thread) Samsung news… their new and much ballyhooed smartphone platform- Bada, is getting Touchwiz! Which indicates to me that it is yet another failed attempt to match the iPhone’s user interface…
http://www.mobiletor.com/2010/02/02/samsung-bada-to-feature-latest-touchwiz-version/
When you have to layer an older shitty UI like Touchwiz into supposedly new plateform, I think you are in trouble. I think this whole software and UI thing for Samsung is going to be an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary thing for them.
Wouldn’t it be wild if it turned out that the problem with Toyota’s brake assembly parts supplier was the result of some super-patriot Korean engineer infiltrated into the design team at CTS years ago!
I’m gonna get to work on the screenplay right away!
DLB
Too late DLB. I forwarded your comment to CJ Entertainment. They have their best guys on it and you’ll see the trailer in Korean theaters in about September or so…
Reminds me of this…
“A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph. The rear differential locks up. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don’t do one.”
@ TK
Really? That’s gotta be awesome, man.
You’re evil, WK, pure evil!
DLB
Ah, the burnt car scene from Fight Club (X Gener’s movie du jour).
http://www.stumplane.us/img/fightclub.wmv
DLB,
You know what’s eviler (if that’s even a word)? Martin Scorsese and Dreamworks will buy the remake rights and will make a movie staring Russell Crowe as the patriotic, but mentally unstable ex-GM engineer (à la Beautiful Mind) and Leonardo Dicaprio will play the guilt ridden younger guy who becomes the whistleblower. The movie will, like The Departed, make a shitload of money and win 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and not a soul will realize that it was all your idea!
Dude, I would SO go to see that movie!
DLB
PS. I really, really, REALLY want to see a Korean version of “Jersey Shore.”
Is there such a thing as a Korean Guido ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUa2o0CJMDw&feature=fvst
gangpeh,
Have you seen Dirty Carnival or Bittersweet Life? I think a sensitive gangster at heart kind of guy like you might appreciate those films.
Also, I think you might get a kick out of this article… the Italianization of Japan!
http://goldsea.com/Text/index.php?id=4788
Heaven forbid if we want any country to have a worser fate than to be Italianized!… Even the Japanese!
LOL i saw Dirty Carnival last week (it’s called Mean Street for some reason here) let’s say it left a really weird taste in my mouth as, believe it or not, Byung-du life seems really familiar.
As for the Italianisation of Japan that’s exactly the same feeling i had when i visited the place: sleazy, stagnant but also very sweet, enjoyable and a big protective mama. The only country i can betray my own for is beautiful 대한민국
gangpeh,
To further hijack my original thread, let me address a question you had before regarding Korea’s overall GDP and your thought that it looked higher.
South Korea’s development is currently a bit uneven. According to this article: http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2916100 as of 2008, Seoul GDP per capita was $32,171, which is comparable to Greece, Spain or Hong Kong. But if you went to the shigol (countryside) in Chollado or southern Chunchungdo you’ll see a lot of the 70′s era Korea that will make the overall Korean GDP of $20k easier to understand.
Yes i can imagine that, even Incheon looks a bit more depressed than Seoul but on a Purchasing Power Parity basis if i’m not wrong Korean GNP (better indicator in my view) is encroaching the 30k $$ level, the UK is around 35k and with a much higher Gini and let alone the horrendous financial situation..now what was the original thread about ?
Spain and Greece GDP are total fakes based on Mickey Mouse accounting and real estate speculation now completely busted, Spain particularly has absolutely no future ahead of herself, comparing an industrial and technological hub like Korea to Spain would be like comparing Fedor to Brock Lesnar
Fedor can eat Brock Lesnar for breakfast…
Speaking of Fedor and Koreans:
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/80496821/
This is actually post related. Hilter learns that Toyota must recall 2.3 million vehicles…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ind98EWAPek
WK:
Good Fedor link. He came to my uni a few years ago for an exhibition match against most of our wrestling and ssireum teams. Seemed like a really cool guy.
I love the ajumma’s reaction to Fedor in the video. I’ve had Koreans react like that to me before: it never occurred to me that they might think I’m famous. I just figured they were retarded.
Granfallon,
There is also a Korean commercial with Fedor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hwu9YH3ZUM0
That’s the gayist Snicker’s commerical I’ve ever seen… but somehow Fedor makes it work.
You’re talking about one of the biggest, most successful car makers in the world.
In the short term – yeah – they’ll take a pretty significant hit. But no doubt we’ll be seeing a major advertising campaign put together by the best firms in the business along with a marketing campaign offering ridiculously low prices – and everything will be right back to normal for Toyota.
This is a sign. Vote Ralph Nader in 2012.
However, according to BusinessWeek’s Moon Ihlwan, Hyundai’s aggressive growth plans put’s said automaker in similar peril because undercontrolled growth can cause hiccups in quality, something that will certainly affect their momentum.
STOP!!! GRAMMAR TIME!!!
I got word that the top 30 conglomerates will spend a record $80 billion this year in capital equipment. Time to look into semiconductor equipment stock.
NK, 2 things
1) I find the way you try to push stock tips on the board delightful
The thing i love the most about this blog is how everybody seems to shamelessly unload their personal obsessions in here, i feel right at home
2) You have cojones with your money
Back to the topic, i don’t think that a big recall would be for Hyundai as detrimental as it is for Toyota. I mean people buy dai’s cos they’re cheap and cute, shall i say ? They’re the the Ikea of cars, an aspirational brand for a demographic of modest means and good education. Actually i’m considering buying a Genesis Coupè for my stepson 16th birthday.
On the other hand Toyota built their mystique on their superior Japanese quality, comparing to Detroit shit.
On Jan 19, TM was at 91.97, its 52 week high. Today, it closed at 71.78, below its 200 day moving average of 80 and change. With the cost of recalling and repairing millions of vehicles, halted production, and possible litigation, I think this stock will get worse before it gets better. Definitely putting Toyota on my watchlist for a possible Warren Buffet style buy in the near term.
Short it!
Which is what I’ve been doing, and I feel just fine! NO FEAR!
Well, we coulda all seen this coming….
In my morning email inbox, notice of the upcoming “Toyota Recall Litigation Conference” in San Diego next month with guest speaker Mark Geragos, he of Scott Peterson, Michael Jackson, Winona Ryder, Gary Condit, and Susan McDougal fame.
Fear not, America, the country’s plaintiffs’ bar turns its lonely hearts to you.
DLB
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