Toyota Motors (TM) returned to profitability in the second quarter of fiscal 2010 ended Sept. 30, 2009, after reporting losses since the third quarter of fiscal 2009. The company posted a profit of ¥21.8 billion ($232 million) or ¥6.96 (7 cents) per share. This can be attributed to government incentive programs across the world -- such as "Cash for Clunkers" -- that helped the company recoup its market share. However, this is still lower than the ¥139.8 billion ($1.49 billion) or ¥44.52 (47 cents) per share of profit recorded in the same quarter of 2008. Consolidated revenue in the quarter dipped 24% to ¥4.54 trillion ($48 billion). Automotive revenue fell 24% to ¥4.11 trillion ($44 billion) while Financial Services revenue shrank 17% to ¥307 billion ($4 billion). This was on the back of a decline in vehicle sales in each region as well as negative impact ...

Toyota Motor (TM) has revealed that it will add a second production shift at its San Antonio Tundra pick-up truck assembly plant in Texas by February next year as inventories with the dealers have dried up. The addition of the shift will require 850 more workers at the plant.   The Japanese auto major has commented that it will hire new workers at the plant in addition to 75 ex-workers, who are being recalled as part of the ramp-up in employment.   In August, Toyota Motor announced its plan to shift production of the smaller Tacoma truck from California to San Antonio in 2010. The automaker plans to run its first online production trial for the Tacoma at the San Antonio plant in the next year spring. Altogether, the company has received more than 14,000 job applications in San Antonio for Tundra and Tacoma production.   Toyota has ...

Toyota Motor (TM) has teamed up with its subsidiary Daihatsu to develop a compact car for emerging markets. The car, which would be priced under ¥1 million ($11,000) will be offered for sale in India, Brazil, China and other markets in the first half of the next decade. The compact would be marketed under the Toyota brand. However, Daihatsu in Indonesia would manufacture it. The development of the compact is in line with the business model incorporated by Toyota President Akio Toyoda to build products for individual geographical segments instead of offering the same lineup across the world. The Japanese auto major also plans to manufacture a compact entry-level family car at its own facilities. The compact, powered by a roughly 1-liter engine, is scheduled to be manufactured in India during 2011. Toyota has been battered financially by the economic crisis. The company posted its ...

Toyota Motor (TM) seems to be regaining consumer confidence in the U.S. at a fast pace. The company has rolled out a plan to spend $1 billion on a marketing campaign to boost its U.S. sales in the fourth quarter. The marketing outlay is 30% to 40% higher than the company typically spends in any quarter. Besides the huge marketing campaign, Toyota will also expand its line of gas-electric hybrid models under the widely popular compact Prius. The company is also looking forward to offer hybrid models both larger and smaller than Prius. Toyota has been battered financially by the economic crisis. The company posted its first annual loss (¥437 billion or $4.4 billion) since 1950 for the fiscal year ended March 2009. Further, management has recently projected net loss to worsen to ¥550 billion ($5.5 billion) for the fiscal year ending March 2010. However, ...

Toyota Motor (TM) plans to sell its entire stake in Toyota Financial Services Securities Corp. to Tokai Tokyo Financial Holdings in January next year. This will enable the company to focus solely on its automobile operations. Ahead of the stock sale, the brokerage unit will acquire a stake of about 5% in Tokai Tokyo Financial in October this year.

Toyota has been battered financially by the economic crisis. The company posted its first annual loss (¥437 billion or $4.4 billion) since 1950 for the fiscal year ended March 2009. Further, management has recently projected net loss to worsen to ¥550 billion ($5.5 billion) for the fiscal year ending March 2010.

However, the recently ended Cash for Clunkers program strengthened demand for Toyota’s fuel-efficient vehicles in the U.S. The federal government program launched in late July allowed consumers to trade in their old gas-guzzling cars and trucks with a

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Toyota Motor (TM) has released its plan to raise production in the U.S. for its pickup trucks as well as fuel-efficient cars by the end of 2009. A recovery in the housing sector and an immense demand generated by the Cash for Clunkers program are the key factors behind the increase in production. Toyota ’s full-sized pickup truck Tundra and mid-sized pickup truck Tacoma saw excellent sales in August. Tundra had its best monthly sales of the year at 7,872 units. Meanwhile, Tacoma sales were up 5% year-over-year to 12,547 units. The increase suggested an improvement in housing demand, as pickups are essentials in the construction industry. Toyota will raise manufacturing capacity of the Tacoma at a California plant. In the meantime, Tacoma production will be shifted to San Antonio, Texas (where Tundra pickups are produced) to ease the transition. Over the coming months, production of ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 28, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Honda (HMC), Toyota (TM), Ford (F), Nissan (NSANY) and Guess Inc. (GES).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

Cash for Clunkers: Review

The average fuel-economy of the vehicle purchased was 24.9 mpg in combined city and highway driving, compared to 15.8 mpg for vehicles being traded in. This reflects an average fuel-economy improvement of 58%.

As expected, the biggest sellers under the program were industry leaders in fuel-efficient vehicles – Honda

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Its time now to review the $3 billion cash incentive program -- Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), informally known as "Cash for Clunkers" -- which officially ended Tuesday. The program, launched by the U.S. Government in late July, allowed consumers to trade in their old gas-guzzling cars and trucks with a mileage of 18 miles per gallon (mpg) or less for a value of up to $3,500–$4,500. The U.S. Department of Transportation reported that as many as 690,114 new cars were sold under the program, reflecting $2.88 billion in rebate applications, which is closer to the program allocation. About 84% of the vehicles traded in by the consumers are trucks and SUVs. About 59% of consumers opted for passenger cars in exchange. The average fuel-economy of the vehicle purchased was 24.9 mpg in combined city and highway driving, compared to 15.8 mpg for vehicles being traded in. ...

Japan’s third-largest automaker Nissan (NSANY) unveiled a zero emission electric car that could give a serious blow to its competitors in the electric vehicle (EV) market. The company has revealed its EV platform on a Versa-based prototype, EV-11, would be launched in the domestic and U.S. markets next year.

Nissan was highly appreciative of the new car launch that will exhibit an unprecedented cutting-edge technology. EV-11 will be able to drive about 150 miles on a battery charge and will incorporate a regenerative brake system that will add to the battery charge when the driver uses the brakes. An on-board computer will show a map of places that the car can reach on its remaining battery charge to help drivers seek haven.

EV-11 comes after Nissan’s earlier announcement of the hybrid minivan Serena in Japan in 2011. The company seems to be in a rush to carve a

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Recently, Japanese auto giant Honda Motor Co. (HMC) revealed its plan to introduce two new gas-electric hybrid vehicles in 2010 in Japan. The company will offer the CR-Z hybrid sports car in February next year, followed by a hybrid version of its Fit compact by the end of next year. The CR-Z has also been set for an international roll-out, but this has not yet been confirmed for the Fit. The new hybrid lineup by Honda is expected to deliver a serious blow to its rival Toyota Motors (TM) in low-emission vehicles. The hybrid version of Fit will be cheaper than the Toyota Prius, on the back of its low-cost single-motor hybrid drive used in Honda’s Insight hybrid. Previously, Honda Insight had lost its luster to Toyota’s third generation Prius in terms of fuel efficiency. Prius 2010 clocks 51 mpg in the city ...