Toyota News Toyota managers on new car shopping spree

Toyota managers in Japan are trying to boost the automakers significantly slipping sales by going shopping - for new Toyotas. The managers say they hope the effort will offset the sales drops experienced by Toyota in its sluggish home market, where new car sales have almost ceased.
A Toyota spokesperson told the Associated Press that a letter was circulated to Toyota’s 2,200 midlevel managers about a month ago encouraging them to purchase new cars. Another request was made at a managerial-level meeting last week.

The managers have an almost club-like repertoire, the spokesperson said, that could make the initiative a success. No manager is forced to purchase a vehicle, but certain social pressures will likely lead to a significant increase in new Toyota purchases.

Toyota strongly encourages teamwork and bonding among its employees - a tough task these days, especially given that managers have already taken a 10 percent pay cut.