QotW: Is Toyota making the right move?

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Last week it was confirmed that Toyota USA would be moving from its home of 57 years in southern California to new digs in Plano, Texas.

Is Toyota making the right move?

On the one hand, there are dollars to be saved and Toyota will be closer to its manufacturing plants in San Antonio, Mississippi and Kentucky. On the other, it will be leaving the car culture mecca of the US and the only place thus far that has a thriving scene devoted to classic Japanese cars. There are hundreds of other factors at play, and the fate of the Toyota USA Museum is still unknown at this time.

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a toy. Click through to see the winner of the last QotW, “What’s the greatest nostalgic Toyota?” 

Usui_Touge49-Toyota_Corolla AE86The winner of last week’s QotW was pstar, who made a compelling case for the ever popular AE86.

There are really only 3 contenders for this, and they are predictably obvious.

The 2000GT of course: as the most valuable Japanese production car, one of the most beautiful cars made, and the fact that it was the singular car that heralded Japan’s arrival into the world of carmaking credibility. But it is just too rare, none of us will ever own one, and probably a lot of us have never even seen one in person.

Then the A20 daruma Celica. The beginning of a sporty coupe dynasty. Wildly popular in Japan and all the major export markets. This car did in Europe for Japanese cars what the 240Z did in the US. And it reinforced the 240Z in the US, those 2 cars together are responsible for anybody thinking of Japanese cars as anything but appliances. If you were making an event poster for anything JNC-related, you could never go wrong with daruma artwork. The Z almost lacks credibility in comparison, so many of them have slot mags and fuzzy dice, or whatever junk passed for style in 1970s California.

And finally the AE86 Corolla. The A20 Celica was the beginning of a sporty car dynasty, the AE86 was the end of one. The glorious pinnacle of the RWD Corolla coupes. A line that incidentally, though marketed as more “economy” and less “GT” than the Celica, actually always surpassed the Celica for sportiness and performance (in top trim levels of each model, at least) for the entire time that they both occupied the showroom floor. There’s too much to say about the AE86: it has one of the all-time best sorted chassis, came with one of the first 16V DOHC engines, and probably the first very reliable one, a 7500 rpm redline in 1985, and thats something still uncommon in cars in the 2010s. It has awesome styling. It had an international following before the internet age. It comes in a huge collectible but easy to remember set : Levin/Trueno; Coupe/Hatch, Zenki/Kouki, GTS/SR5. It wears 2-tone beautifully, at least as good as any other car ever. And for all that, it is a Corolla. The best Corolla ever made. The best iteration of the best-selling car in history.

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54 Responses to QotW: Is Toyota making the right move?

  1. Nigel says:

    If Toyota is moving it needs an “expansion” for the museum, or part of who Toyota
    is in USA will be lost.
    As well they need to maintain any sort of “network” in place so there is not so much shock to the Japanese car culture in Southern California.

    If not, in fifteen years all that will be left are stories of “what once was”.

  2. eric says:

    Hey Toyota, Texas welcomes you with open arms. They will thrive here. Im sorry,but California is not friendly to big business. Not to get into the politics of it all,but its the right move for Toyota in my humble opinion. Btw, there are plenty of jnc lovers here in Texas.

    • mister k says:

      stop parroting media sensationalizing pablum and do your research

      • Tim says:

        He’s right – there ARE plenty of JNC lovers in TX.

        Also, CA’s not very friendly to ANY kind of business – large or small. They have the strictest regulations in the states, some of the smallest tax breaks, and ridiculous land prices (and taxes!)

        If moving to TX means that they can put more money into R&D of fun, sporty cars, then I’m all for it.

      • Randy says:

        I’m curious – not rippin’ on you or anything – honestly curious:

        How is moving from a high-tax / high-regulation state to one that’s widely regarded as being much friendlier to business a bad thing for the company?

      • Mister K says:

        no no No I’m not doubting JNC’rs in Texas welcoming Toyota at all

        just when I took a moment to research on my OWN
        I found that (surprise, surprise) what we’re being forcefed lies by the media re:fleeing california businesses is– utter garbage

        afa toyota going to texas fine by me since most of their vehicles are bloated and drive like my father’s oldsmobile anyway

    • Randy says:

      Dude, politics is in every damn thing anymore… Your breakfast had a hidden political meaning to it… Sickening, ain’t it?

  3. Steve says:

    I dunno, seems to be a typical MBA-type, short-term profit, motivated move to me. Right before the incentives expire, the current CEO will retire with a great severance package and pat himself on the back because of all the money he “saved”. Then they will discover that the new “business model” doesn’t really work without government subsidies and they will be looking for the next quick-buck money saving scheme which is probably to close up most US operations, like Suzuki and Isuzu did.

    But then again, I am a pessimist…

    • Bart says:

      I think Toyota has a much, much bigger market presence in the US than Suzuki and Isuzu ever did, but like you, I am a pessimist as well…

      No offense to Texas, but I wouldn’t mess if I was Toyota.

  4. xs10shl says:

    If we divorce ourselves from JNC for a moment, it’s probably a good decision. Getting paid $40 million to create 3000 jobs, while at the same time being able to clear the deadweight from the company by moving is a smoking deal. Whether or not its a good deal for Texas long-term remains to be seen. My guess is its a loss-leader- something to staple on your campaign flyer, but with not generate any money for the state.

    • Ben Hsu says:

      Unfortunately the dead weight tends to stay with the company. Those who stay are either those who are on the cusp of pension eligibility, those who are just starting out in their careers with no family ties to the region, or those who cannot find a job at a rival company in SoCal, of which there are many.

  5. Tofuik says:

    If this means we can have a Toyota Fest that I can actually go participate in…then HELL YES TOYOTA COME ON DOWN. Otherwise I still don’t see myself ever having the time/money to make the trip all they way from the Gulf Coast.

  6. r100guy says:

    The move to Texas is a good one. California is no longer is the car culture mecca it once was and is stuck in over regulation and self importance. Texas is a dynamic market with business friendly environment and a strong healthy economy. California is becoming less relevant all the time. The “car culture mecca” is now the internet with people all over the world sharing ideas.

    • jkwade says:

      Very well put. I am not from California, but I have been there a few times and I am sad when I hear old Beach Boy songs about Deuce Coupes and T-birds. That said, the internet is the new frontier, and it is exciting how it has brought together all sorts of people from all sides of the “car culture” spectrum. I honestly think that the exponentially improved levels of information and communication which it has brought about is super exciting in the grand scheme of things.

      I respect the history of California’s car cultures, but I also welcome the changes the internet has brought with open arms.

    • Jim-Bob says:

      Exactly. Plus, how long will it remain a car culture mecca when it has some of the strictest automotive regulations of any place in the world? It’s fine if you drive a car made before 1975, but for anything newer it is hell on Earth. It’s becoming a mecca of car culture for those with enough money to own increasingly rare cars with ever increasing price tags. If you want to live in the past, live in California. If you want to live in the present, live somewhere else.

    • wantyerknobby says:

      congrats for the winning quote!
      having said that it could just as easily (and more appropriately?) be applied to the usa as a whole

      btw we’ll start believing california is no longer a car mecca when toyota etc abandon their west coast design studios

  7. RainMeister says:

    I work in the car industry, and while our company HQ is in SoCal, we have mfg plants in the South. The problem with this arrangement is the difference in time zone, and the time wasted traveling from HQ to the plants, not to mention customers located back east. It makes great sense to consolidate in the Central time zone as Toyota and Nissan have opted to do. Personally, I would change jobs before I had to relocate to the South, but from a business standpoint, it’s the sensible thing to do.

    I presume Toyota will maintain CALTY and some of the marketing functions in California, just as Nissan have done. Creative talent is something that SoCal has in abundance, and will remain so into the future because of the lifestyle that the region has to offer.

  8. 80Celica says:

    Hey?! What ever happened to coming to NY, actually, they’d be labeled a New York company but facilities would be located in New Jersey (you know, like the Jets and Giants)….

  9. sabin simard says:

    Try to find any parts for your classic Toyota and you will see the difference between Toyota motor corp and the japanese cars lovers like you,you talk with your heart but Toyota have none. Even Toyota motor sales did have joint the nostalgic car party but it’s because in large part of the socal phenomenom. It’s became harder to keep a Toyota alive than a Packard who leave the party in 1956! They even lost one of the two 2000GT roadster build for the movie.Toyota never wanted to see classic Toyota on the road, they rapidly stopped to built parts to keep all theses cars alive even for their most beautiful MX13-32,MA46-47-61-70 etc.If they could see the people reaction when i go out with my 10K miles supra or my MX32,it’s about the same of if i was inbord a hemicuda. Toyota instead of nissan and mazda never had any consideration for their past.They only want to sell cars and THAT’S ALL.

    • Randy says:

      Yeah – it’s a business… The only reason the U.S. manufacturers have the old-car support, is because the aftermarket was providing it. Chevy wants to sell NEW Camaros, but they realize that they’re missing out on licensing fees and such on even the simple parts like headlight trim. Even that’s only because of the prices of the high-end models that share everything but driveline parts.

      There’s one place somebody referenced that’s putting out Datsun 510 fenders, but there just aren’t that many suppliers. Maybe it’s because the dies are on the other side of the planet from here?

      How cool would it be to start seeing 197x Celicas rolling around again? (Even if they have the newer, “better” drivelines in them…)

    • Ben Hsu says:

      Do you have pictures of your 10k-mile Supra? I’m sure we’d all like to see that!

  10. Randy says:

    Toyota is a business, and the entire purpose of a business, whether it be building cars, painting houses, or selling burgers is to maximize profits and minimize costs, so if they can accomplish the dual goals regarding profits and costs, then yeah, that’s the logical move.

    Toyota may be different, but in most companies, if the top brass don’t work toward those goals, they get voted out of their jobs, and someone else who WILL work toward those goals will be voted in.

    Most likely, California was simply the logical choice 57 years ago, when all their vehicles were shipped here, and had to go through California. That’s no longer the case; it’s not necessary to deal with California’s taxes and regulations.

    I disagree that it’s short-sighted. It may only be my image of Japanese companies – and I could be totally wrong – but I don’t see Japanese companies doing anything in a short-sighted manner. I certainly trust them more than U.S. companies.

    I don’t see how the move would affect SoCal’s Japanese Car Culture. The dealers will still be there; the aftermarket will still be there, the clubs will still be there. They’re moving the HEADQUARTERS; not folding up the entire corporation and internet. They’re not closing any plants there, as I understand it, so at least for now, the net jobs change OUTSIDE of the HQ would be zero.

    Admittedly, if it were ME, I’d probably move CALTY, as well. As a couple of others have said, the car culture isn’t what it was – for J-cars, or anyone else; technology precludes much of that, and I honestly do not understand what “the California influence” is in car design.

    Here’s a possibility:the amount of money saved – annually – might not just be newly-discovered “profit,” but may be dumped into one or more of the following: R&D; holding down prices on their products; introducing vehicles at lower prices; ???

    • Ben Hsu says:

      That is simply not true about jobs loss. If you’ve been to Torrance, you will see that there are TONS of companies that exist to support Toyota. Friends who work at suppliers like Denso or companies that provied sound systems, accessories, service manuals, and even major Japanese aftermarket brands are scared about their job security and are preparing for the possibility they will have to move.

      And that’s not even counting the thriving Japanese American community that supports great restaurants, travel agencies and bookstores where we can find copies of great Japanese magazines and videos about the cars we love.

      • Randy says:

        I don’t see why they’re worried about jobs in the support businesses. They’re not moving anything from Long Beach, or Newport Beach. If Toyota SAYS something about considering moving Airflite, the Auto Body Company, or whatever out, then yeah, worry. Until that happens, though, there’s no logical reason to. The same sound systems are going to get sent to Indiana, Kentucky, Texas and Mississippi, so no change.

        I’m going off Toyota’s USA Operations page; here’s the link:

        http://www.toyota.com/usa/operations/operations-map#/usa/operations/fast-facts

        (REALLY good page. Left column is the subject – pick one, then click on the icon in the state of your choice.)

        Financial Services, dealerships, R&D; they’re not moving.

        I’m curious about the Japanese aftermarket compnies – any links would be appreciated to see what’s out there, but how would they be affected when the HQ moves? If I’m in Baltimore, and I want JDM lights for my car, I’m going to either go to a local parts place, who’d have the parts shipped from CA, or I’ll go online, to order from either the manufacturer, or one of the online retailers, who ALSO

      • Randy says:

        . . . who ALSO get the parts from the same company in CA.

        (Don’t know what happened there… The bouncing hams must’ve struck again…)

        As far as the J-A communities, they can’t be entirely Toyota HQ employees. There are, I’m sure, bankers, and plumbers, and everything else that you see in any NON-J-A community.

        (BTW, do you have any idea how wierd I find if that we’re focusing on an ethnic community in the politically-correct present? I like the ability to have an HONEST conversation.)

        But according to that map, they have 5,708 direct jobs, about 4,000 of which will be moving, but the other 21,152 will not be moving. The 172 dealerships are not moving,so you can still go to your local dealer, buy your vehicle, drive to the local hop-up shop for the wheels, lights, carbon fiber parts, etc. No change, that I can see, so those people will keep working.

        I have no idea about the bookstores for magazines, etc., but I don’t see them changing, if there isn’t a major shift in the population…

        I have to believe that not everybody working at HQ is Japanese, or of Japanese extraction, so it wouldn’t be a huge hit to the population, so not the major pop. shift.

        Here’s the thing, though: If CA makes it more expensive than it’s worth to do business there, they WILL lose more, and yes, those people who will be affected WILL have to move or move on. I feel bad for them – I really do, because I’m old enough to remember when Pittsburgh was THE STEEL CITY; we were IT for steel, for the enitire country. If you see a picture of our downtown, you cannot miss the UPMC building. It WAS the United States Steel (USS) building. Numerous areas went to hell when that all changed; some of which really haven’t come back yet – 30+ years out. The easy example is always Detroit. Make it not worth doing business there, and you lose the businesses. It sucks beyond belief, but it’s the reality of business.

      • Ben Hsu says:

        Companies like Denso, Fujitsu Ten, service manual writers etc. are in SoCal because of proximity. It’s a lot easier to go down the street and view the thing you’re designing for. It’s not always about selling. All of these satellite companies have staff dedicated to the Toyota account.

        There’s also the matter of talent. Employees bounce between these companies all the time, and that network of relationships built up over decades and the wealth of knowledge that is shared or stored in some old dude’s noggin is quite valuable, even if not quantifiable.

        Logical or not, they are worried about their jobs. This is coming from straight from the mouths of employees working there.

  11. pstar says:

    California is rife with hyper-regulation (you can directly blame California and the influence they have nationally for the retarded safety and emissions laws which prevented us from ever getting such awesome cars like Japan, Europe, Australia, etc.

    When ever you or your buddy complains about how we never got real deal Silvias, or Skylines, or Cosmos, or on and on, don’t dismiss it as just “bad luck” or some lack of oversight from the Japanese. They didn’t forget about you. They would have loved to sell you or your parents those cars. But they couldn’t. Because of laws California pioneered in their own market and then pushed the federal government to adopt.

    California was once the center of car culture? Yes it definitely was. But that time is gone. Once Baghdad was the center of art and literature. Now look at it.

    I don’t know if TX is the best choice, it probably is, since Toyota tends to be a wise corporation. Also… Texas might lack in 510s and 240Zs and AE86s, but they have their fair share of badass Supras and nice Lexuses.

    • Ben Hsu says:

      Actually the NHTSA, DOT and EPA’s labyrinthine laws have been influenced heavily by domestic automakers as a form of protectionism from Japan and Europe’s auto industries.

      • Randy says:

        Not sure about the fed regs being influenced by the U.S. companies… They weren’t exactly thrilled about them either. From what I read, the slow changes to cars of the ’70s was because they were devoting heavy amounts of resources to meeting the emissions regs. That’s why power and gas mileage were down.

        Now, it MAY be that the acceptable emissions limits worked against the imports, but I think it cut across all makes.

        Now, the “Chicken Tax,” was CLEARLY a protectionist move. For those who don’t know, anything that was qualified as a light truck was tariffed at 25%. Still seems to be, actually; Ford’s having an issue with their Transit Connect, according to a blurb I caught the other day.

        “The U.S. Customs Service changed vehicle classifications in 1989, automatically relegating two-door SUVs to light truck status. Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co., Suzuki (through a joint venture with GM), and Honda Motor Co. eventually built assembly plants in the U.S. and Canada in response to the tariff.”

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax

  12. xs10shl says:

    Just a few facts regarding California Vs. Texas, with respect to federal taxes.

    California is an accretive state, contributing $292 Million while only receiving $258 Million in Federal Spending, yielding a national tax surplus of $33 Million.

    Texas is a degressive state, contributing $219 Million while receiving $277 Million in Federal spending, yielding a national tax burden of $57 Million.

    For the record, the worst state in the nation is Florida, which yielded a national net tax burden of $407 million.

    In other words, if California, Texas and Florida all seceded from the US, California would run a surplus, Texas would run a deficit, and Florida would become insolvent.

    One way to help the National debt is to cut Florida loose, and let them go their own way. By these numbers, we would save close to half a billion a year.

    • xs10shl says:

      Sorry, the numbers are in billions, not millions.

    • Jim-Bob says:

      You cherry pick your numbers to make California look better than it is. In terms of Federal taxes and expenditures it may be as you say. However, if you look at the total net deficit for state spending versus incomes you will find your numbers to be quite different. After all, it has too many social programs and pays it’s employees far too much. The same can be said for Federal employees. A simple cut of 20-50% in pay for Federal employees (and a salary cap of $60k a year for everyone from janitors to Senators) would see a great net savings for all of us. Plus, do we really need as big a military as we have? All we really need is to defend our national borders, anything else is unnecessary. Plus, imagine just how much better a place the US would be if 50% of all government workers suddenly had their jobs eliminated? That’s a brighter future I think we can all hope for.

      • xs10shl says:

        I suppose it’s true that the last few years Florida has been an excessive drain on the treasury, but it’s a rare year when California does not contribute way, way more to the Federal tax rolls than it consumes – typically equivalent to California’s entire fiscal deficit, every year. The most wasteful social program California has is funding the lifestyles of people in other states.

        No question there is need for pension and tax reform in California, and so is the need for other states to start living within their means as well.

        • pstar says:

          I like how you pretend like federal tax rates differ from state to state. If you cared at all about this talking point you’d be trying to reduce tax rates on “the rich”. California has more rich people than Texas, so they pay more money. Funny how everybody who brings up this talking point thinks the cure is even more taxes on “the rich”.

          • xs10shl says:

            Don’t really disagree with you, but I’m not really looking at it from that angle. The heart of my point is this: for all the bashing California gets for being a bad place to do business, and all the talk about California being bad for the US because of it’s socially liberal policies, and how much better other states are because they have none of those problems- California STILL contributes far more tax dollars nationally than it consumes, possibly to it’s own detriment. I intended this conversation to be a counterpoint to those who feel that California is a burden on the rest of the country due to its social programs and business climate, when in fact the opposite is true: California historically is a cash-flow positive state in the eyes of the US Treasury.

            Will that change in the future? Entirely possible. My crystal ball is cloudy on the issue, but signs are that it will change in our lifetime.

      • Randy says:

        Here’s an insane idea: Federal Gov’t only does what is in the Constitution. No corporate welfare; no federal Dept of Education; no Dept of Agriculture with its own SWAT teams; little more than providing courts, defending the nation with a military, certain law-enforcement activities, and delivering the mail.

        Remember the big, evil, horrific gov’t shutdown? Odds are, WE all still went to work, the stores were open, we paid our bills, and lived our lives. In some cases, up to 94% of some fed. agencies were given paid vacations. That should tell you something right there.

        Let the states handle their own education systems, personal-welfare programs, etc., and let the states compete for business and residents.

        Here’s a sad thought: from what I saw, the feds spend $300-$400 MILLION per HOUR.

        I have no idea how this ties in to the benefit to Toyota in their move, but it’s a fun thread!

        • pstar says:

          The US federal government spends more in a year than the entire economy of Germany produces in a year. That’s every transaction in Germany, every car sold, every soda bought, every tower constructed. For 90,000,000 people, in one of the most advanced countries on the planet.

  13. Matt says:

    Look i know where not exactly a big country. But New Zealand has probably one of the biggest collections of japanese classic cars (per capita of course) in the world. Don’t forget about us!

    • Randy says:

      Never forget about the Kiwis!

      It’s not a big country, as you say, but from what I’ve seen, it’s a BEAUTIFUL country. Lotsa small towns, and all those woodlands. Admitedly, most of the greenery I’ve seen was on Hercules and Xena…

  14. Randy says:

    CALIFORNIA GOES BEYOND STUPID.

    I just heard that some bonehead who apparently wants EVERYONE to leave has proposed a new mileage tax. Every mile you drive. Five cents per mile.

    If you drive the low-average of 12,000 miles per year, that’s $600.

    You’re eating Ramen noodles, driving a ’96 POS Deluxe with raised-white-letter Maypops, trying to pay the rent, and they want another X-hundred dollars out of you.

    Keep subsidising everything, and droughting the farmers (income tax paying food providers) out of existence. Don’t encourage businesses to come in and create more tax-paying jobs; just tax everyone ’til they say: “Screw it.” Good job, Cali!

    Notice how many movies and TV programs are being done in Canada? Wonder why?

    First three links right here:

    https://www.google.com/search?q=proposed+california+mileage+tax&hl=en&gbv=2&prmd=ivns&source=lnms&tbm=nws&sa=X&ei=70xpU5GJHIa3yATq8oHAAg&ved=0CAcQ_AU

    Somebody want to get all misty-eyed over the “Car Culture” out there again?

    • Randy says:

      One of the following articles from that search results was how CA might be able to save itself, but at no time would I believe they’d do it.

      http://www.globalresearch.ca/robbing-main-street-to-prop-up-wall-street-why-jerry-browns-rainy-day-fund-is-a-bad-idea/5380745

      Basically, just follow what North Dakota did:

      “That is not just California dreaming. There is already a highly successful precedent for the approach. North Dakota is the only state with its own state-owned depository bank, and the only state to fully escape the credit crisis. It has boasted a budget surplus every year since 2008, and its 2.6% unemployment rate is the lowest in the country. Contrast that to California’s, one of the highest.”

      (Poor Ben; he has to read and check all these links to make sure they’re all kosher. 🙂 Thinkin’ ’bout moving to the Lone Star state, dude? Gotta practice your “Y’alls.”)

    • Ben Hsu says:

      In fact I used to live in Texas! Despite its flaws California is a great place to live. I can say for 100% certain we would not have been able to create JNC if I was still there, and there is a reason why Toyotafest, SevenStock, MazFest, Nissan Jam and JCCS are all in SoCal.

      • Randy says:

        I always thought it was ’cause of the weather…

      • Randy says:

        Thinking about what you said there…

        Would the inability to do the page be due to a lack of acceptance of Japanese vehicles (back in the JNC time frame), so there just aren’t any?

        What was there just didn’t hold up due to the radical climate?

        I’m actually interested; not just burning electrons.

      • Ben Hsu says:

        Weather is just one of many factors that contributed to an overall environment that was ripe for the sharing of knowledge.

        When you can go down to the local burger shop on any given weekend, even in the middle of January, and see a dozen other examples of the car you’re restoring, it helps.

        When you can routinely meet and talk to people who work for aftermarket companies or even OEMs like Toyota, ideas and projects come to fruition.

        Half the Japanese Americans I know who work for the OEMs and its support companies used to tinker, cruise and race their Datsuns and Toyotas back in the day. Non-JAs too. As well as Japanese Japanese people who can help me make sense of the Nostalgic Hero magazine I just picked up at Mitsuwa Market.

        If I had to take a plane ride every time I wanted to photograph a car, JNC wouldn’t have happened. The info I have gleaned and list of people I have met by dint of being in SoCal would have taken many lifetimes to accumulate otherwise.

        Nice weather is just one of thousands of tiny advantages that, each taken on its own, would not seem like a big deal compared to any other part of the country. But taken together, they brewed the perfect storm that made JNC possible. It’s this community of knowledge and exchange of ideas that makes SoCal a special place.

  15. dickie says:

    There’s all sorts of fallout coming to light as a result of Toyota’s decision. One thing I can honestly say I’m pleasantly surprised about is the lack of slander towards Texas and its residents in the comments here and elsewhere. On the reverse side, it seems like everyone is citing facts explaining why California is bad for business, bad for automotive enthusiasts, bad for just about anything short of working for the state government or acting in Hollywood movies (or both).

    But I’d be willing to meet you CA residents halfway and suggest that we can have it both ways. Toyota doesn’t have to shift its North American heritage from the golden state along with the headquarters and the jobs that go with it. Doing so would be like trying to rewrite history itself. Rather, it could establish a new chapter for itself here in North Texas that unites us in our appreciation of the company and its continued support of the community.

    I’ve always kicked myself for not attending Toyotafest; the distance and time off from work that would be required make it nothing short of an impossibility. If there was a second event held here in Texas – there are a ton of great venues – it would make it easier to connect with the other Toyota lovers in the South and Southwest regions. The weather is nice on the other side of summer, and that would put enough time between the two events to allow the hardcore devotees to attend both. Rest assured, there are plenty of us out here willing to give you a warm welcome.

    • Randy says:

      Why would anybody slander Texas?

      I feel bad for the regular people of CA, but only to the point that they keep voting for the very same people who are tossing THEIR jobs away.

      • xs10shl says:

        No argument that there’s a negative business climate in CA when compared to most other states. I’d venture to say that losing an Automotive manufacturer is not as huge a deal than if the tech sector decided it was time to get out of town. That’s less likely to happen quickly, partly due to the fact that the people with the talent and purse stings don’t want to move. Anyone who thinks telecommuting is going to make that possible has perhaps not witnessed the kinetic energy that powers the Google campus- it’s as if the campus is built around a secret fountain of youth. “Location” still matters.

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