Toyota Aggressively Monitoring 2022 Land Cruiser Sales
Toyota has closed 2022 Land Cruiser orders, over concerns models could end up in conflict zones.
Toyota is known for making such sturdy, well-engineered vehicles that the company is essentially a modern metaphor for reliability. Certainly, that’s something to brag about at the dealership and celebrate in the boardroom. But there’s a lead lining to this silver cloud. Because the same qualities which have made Toyota vehicles popular with law-abiding customers has also made them a favorite of warlords, despots, and terrorists. Anyone remember this famous piece in the Independent? Now, the company is flexing its muscle to keep the latest Land Cruiser out of their hands.
Details come from Japanese publication Magazine X, which reported Toyota has temporarily suspended orders for the 300 Series. The suspension has been in place since July, 1st, because the brass is concerned unsavory buyers are already gunning to snap up the new rigs. So along with verifying the identify of the Land Cruiser customers they have on the books, Toyota is having dealers insist buyers sign a pledge not to immediately resale or export the rugged off-roaders. From the article, it’s unclear how long the holding period is.
Of course, Toyotas aren’t the only vehicle which wind up in conflict zones. In 2015, a Texas plumber sued a dealership after his Ford F-250 trade-in — complete with his company logo — was seen carrying a heavy machine gun in ISIS propaganda videos. That’s obviously not the kind of publicity Toyota wants to get for the latest generation Land Cruiser, because despite what you might have been told, there’s such a thing as bad press — and the company already has a war named after it.
It’s impossible, ultimately, for a company to control exactly how their products are used after they’re sold. People use legally purchased gun to commit crimes, perfectly legal tequila to get drunk and drive, and gorgeous McIntosh stereos to play Yoko Ono albums. But Toyota should be commended for its actions here, and it should be noted that the pledge Land Cruiser customers are signing isn’t something legally toothless. Japan’s Foreign Exchange Law ensures that anyone who flouts it could face legal consequences. Look for more on the latest Land Cruiser in the coming weeks, and if you’ve got one on order, let me know!
Photos: Toyota