By Jim Meachen
MotorwayAmerica Editor

(February 2010) We think Toyota's fall from grace — and sales — will be more precipitous in 2010 than most analysts predict.

We think this because Toyota's leadership continues to make mistakes, continues to cover up problems, continues to stand aloof from the rest of the industry. We think this because we feel there are more problems lurking in the future, and we don't think the sudden acceleration problem has been solved. There are electronic issues that haven't been addressed.

(February 2010) Like a bad dream, the Toyota throttle situation continues to take uncomfortable turns. Since the very unfortunate fatal accident in San Diego back in the Fall of 2009, Toyota seems to always be one step behind this situation. And subsequently, the headlines have followed. That is where the damage in the short (and maybe long) term will arise.

(January 2010) As long as sales of recalled Toyota models are suspended, Toyota will suffer about a 75 percent hit in sales according to Edmunds.com. During this period, Scion may be down about 20 percent and Lexus may be down about 10 percent because of damage to the Toyota corporate brand, according to Edmunds.com Senior Analyst Ray Zhou.

(January 2010) 2009 was a a memorable year for the automotive industry — unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. The U.S. light vehicle market closed out 2009 at a disastrous 10.4 million sales, down from 16.1 million sales just two years prior and the lowest industry volume since AutoPacific began forecasting automotive sales in 1988.

Naturally, the national economic collapse had a profound impact on retail sales of light vehicles.