[Chat Log] April-May 2019

[Eugene]

You think technical, and the inevitable mental image is a toyota with a machine gun or rocket pod in the bed.

 

[Eugene]

It's like they sponsor these incidents like one would sponsor a football game.

 

[Carmen]

One would think, yes.

 

[Carmen]

It was an inquiry 4 years ago: Why Isis has so many Toyota trucks

 

[Chase]

I noticed that for a while, yeah.

 

[Chase]

Toyota has a "strict policy to not sell vehicle to potential purchasers who may use or modify them for paramilitary or terrorist activities," Ed Lewis, a Toyota spokesman, said. However, he said it is "impossible for any automaker to control indirect or illegal channels through which our vehicles could be misappropriated, stolen or re-sold by independent third parties". -- Sounds like some middle eastern Toyota distributor is making a killing.

 

[Eugene]

I find it slightly odd they have 'strict policy' to cite.

 

[Chase]

Considering that barely 10 years ago, Toyota truck sales were second to Isuzu, but you don't see Isuzu trucks in any conflict. But now, Toyota is Asia's #1 pick up truck maker.

 

[Eugene]

Toyota trucks have a strong foothold in the US market too.

 

[Chase]

Isuzu had virtually disappeared except for small niche countries.

 

[Carmen]

Interesting how vehicle commerce by Japanese manufacturers is directly linked to war in the middle east.

 

[Chase]

Everybody would rather drive than walk.