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Jim Press
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industry news
Today the super number-one best automaker from the land of the rising sun provided us the automotive industry equivalent of yelling "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" at their former President of Toyota USA, Jim Press. Press, now President of Chrysler, claimed last week in an article in BusinessWeek that 100% of development of the battery and hybrid engine for the automaker's happy little hybrid, the Prius, occurred via a fat injection of government dollars. This claim had been widely speculated at in the past, but much like the existence of the Yeti, "Nessie" and the affordable lightweight mid-size performance coupe, proof was in short supply. However, Press's comments to Newsweek last week were akin to pulling out the tail of a giant Icyosauropodasaurthing from the depths of a Scottish Loch. Now, Toyota's fightin' back. Here's what spokesman Paul Nolasco now claims:
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Toyota Claims Jim Press Is A Liar, Pants Are On Fire: Prius Development Didn't Use Government Dollars
Today the super number-one best automaker from the land of the rising sun provided us the automotive industry equivalent of yelling "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" at their former President of Toyota USA, Jim Press. Press, now President of Chrysler, claimed last week in an article in BusinessWeek that 100% of development of the battery and hybrid engine for the automaker's happy little hybrid, the Prius, occurred via a fat injection of government dollars. This claim had been widely speculated at in the past, but much like the existence of the Yeti, "Nessie" and the affordable lightweight mid-size performance coupe, proof was in short supply. However, Press's comments to Newsweek last week were akin to pulling out the tail of a giant Icyosauropodasaurthing from the depths of a Scottish Loch. Now, Toyota's fightin' back. Here's what spokesman Paul Nolasco now claims:
More »
industry news
Chrysler's Press Claims Japan Paid 100% Of Toyota Prius Hybrid, Battery Development; Lutz Says Volt Could Cost $48,000
BusinessWeek's David Kiley had a fun idea to spend some time talking with some industry heavy-hitters about CAFE and fuel economy. He spent a few minutes talking to both former Toyota USA President and current #2 at Chrysler, Jim Press, as well as GM Vice-Chairman "Maximum" Bob Lutz. The topic was the fuel efficient topic of choice among greenies, hybrids. In the article, Lutz claimed the upcoming Chevy
industry news
Chrysler Set To Drop The Ax on Pacifica, PT Cruiser, Dodge Magnum
Chrysler is expected to kill off its Pacifica, PT Cruiser and Dodge Magnum at some kind of a board meeting today. With sales of all those models dropping by nearly 30 percent this year, there's not much left to kill, but fates will be decided at the first board meeting with former Home Depot CEO Bob Nardelli as chairman. With sales sliding 23 percent this year, Jeep's full-size Commander is also at risk as a possible fourth model to be chopped. CEO and chairman Nardelli, along with vice chairman and chief product strategist Jim Press are looking to trim Chrysler's operations through a smaller line-up and smaller workforce. [The Detroit News]
industry news
Another Jim Leaves Toyota, Farley Goes To Ford
Toyota's lost another top American executive to Detroit. If you'll remember from way back in early September, Jim Press left Toyota as chief operating officer of North America for a gig at Chrysler as vice chairman in charge of knowing how to run an automaker. Now Toyota's lost their second Jim as twenty-year veteran marketing man Jim Farley (
alternative energy
Chrysler to Offer Alternative-Fuel Powertrain on Every Model
Chrysler's Jim Press says his company plans to offer an alternative-fuel powertrain option in every model it sells. Press told the Detroit News diesel, plug-in, fuel-cell and gas-electric hybrids could all be used to backfill Chrysler's lineup with environmentally friendly alternatives. The vice chairman of Chrysler says the company's commitment to green technologies comes from the top — new owner Cerberus Capital Management, whose financial boffins probably have figured to the tenth of a cent what a greener image would sell for. Despite such lofty goals, Chrysler has a long way to go before it'll be known as a green automaker. Of the Big Six, Chrysler is the only company without a hybrid on the market right now. The Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango will be the company's first hybrids when they arrive in 2008, using a two-mode hybrid system mated to the 5.7-liter Hemi. And yes, as we told you first earlier this summer — it's called the "HemiHybrid." [The Detroit News]
industry news
The Chrysler media blog's got an interview with the new Vice-Chairman of "The New Chrysler," Jim Press. Much of it's a nice little flufferview of the guy who until being snagged by Cerberus, spent thirty years at Toyota, eventually becoming President of Toyota USA and the only non-Japanese ToMoCo board member. Still, at the end of the interview was a little blurb that stood out as shockingly note-worthy:
Former Toyota USA President Jim Press Never Owned A Toyota Or Lexus
The Chrysler media blog's got an interview with the new Vice-Chairman of "The New Chrysler," Jim Press. Much of it's a nice little flufferview of the guy who until being snagged by Cerberus, spent thirty years at Toyota, eventually becoming President of Toyota USA and the only non-Japanese ToMoCo board member. Still, at the end of the interview was a little blurb that stood out as shockingly note-worthy:"Press has always loved cars. He built his first go-cart at age seven, got his first car when he was 12. At age 13, he started washing cars at his family's dealership in Kansas. But he said he never bought a Toyota or Lexus. The only vehicle he owns is a Yamaha motorcycle. But he'll soon be driving Chrysler vehicles."Are you kidding us — the guy worked for Toyota for over 30 years and never once bought one of the vehicles he sold? We're stunned. Seriously, stunned. Full verbiage of the post below the jump. More »
industry news
BREAKING! Jim Press Leaves Toyota, Takes Vice-Chairman Seat at Chrysler!
Chrysler's just announced that joining Bob Nardelli at "The New Chrysler" will be none other than Jim Press, who up until today was President and Chief Operating Officer of Toyota North America and the token 'merican on the Toyota board of directors. He'll be filling the slot of vice chairman. We're stunned like deer in the headlights of an oncoming four-door Jeep Wrangler with an optional roof light bar on this one. We don't even have anything funny to say — we're just that flabbergasted. The only thing we're wondering is how much money they offered Press to run the show over there. Full press release on Press below the jump. More »
news
With Money From The US Government, Toyota Hopes Someday To Build a Plug-In Hybrid Of Its Very Own
The same day as "Slick" Rick Wagoner was up on stage in LA announcing a plug-in hybrid for the General, ToMoCo's senior samurai in North America, Jim Press, was asked about his company's strategy for plug-in hybrids at the Electric Drive Transportation Association conference in Washington. Press didn't commit Toyota to building a plug-in-play hybrid vehicle, saying only:"We still have a lot of basic research to do."But Toyota's head man in NorAm did make it clear he wouldn't mind the ducats from Washington to continue to flow to help him get it done:
"By encouraging consumer support for a promising new technology, our government is supporting innovation and investing in our nation's future...we'd like to see those tax incentives continue."Wow, who would have thunk the General could really leap Toyota in PR buzz? Way to go, Rick! More »
news
Jim Press-ing His Way To Shapely Hips, Thighs And US Automakers
Still newly-minted Toyota Motor North America president Jim Press issued a press release yesterday talking about the "thriving" US automotive industry. In it, he re-iterated Toyota will continue to be around to help the US government solve major environmental and auto safety issues. How kind and sweet of Jim and his bosses from the land of the rising sun. We for one, welcome our new Japanese overlords and thank them for their offers of help. But wait, Jim continues: More »
news
Autoextremist on Toyota and the Ladies
He of the Sweetness, Peetness and D-ness, the Autoextremist himself, weighs in on "Teflon Jim" Press' quest to convince the world that Toyota's not just another car company, and giggles to himself about the company's current predicament. Meanwhile, over at BusinessWeek, Press weighs in on his new position, and says with a straight face, "Hybrid is the way you gain the synergy of combining stored energy that you store when you don't need it and release when you do." Actually, the BusinessWeek piece is worth a read. More »
news
Jim Press-ing On After Toyota Sex Scandal
We think it was ironic Jim Press, the newly minted President and Chief Executive of Toyota Motor North America, was scheduled to speak at today's Inforum luncheon at the Atheneum Hotel in Detroit. Especially because the only reason he was speaking as Prez rather than as President of Toyota Motor Sales USA was because of the alleged dalliances of the previous Chief Executive. We're of course talking about Hideaki Otaka, alleged to have made repeated, unwanted Clinton-esque advances against his former executive assistant, Sayaka Kobayashi. Kobayashi has dropped a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court for $40 million in damages. Sounds to us like Mr. Press had a pretty tight rope to tread this afternoon. Why such a tight rope? Well, the old name for Inforum was the Womens Economic Club of Metro Detroit. Lucky for Mr. Press, he seems to have done pretty well — hit the jump if you'd like the full remarks. More »
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