gsrthomas

iTrader: (1)

This means that tomorrows car isnt going to be as reliable as yesterdays car.

This is already the case.

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

Not necessarily so.

You can have a great product using not-so-superior materials. That is why I am concerned about Toyota engineering. Engineers are the ones that make inferior products/processes work better. For example, televisions are more plastic than ever, but they provide much more bang for the buck, with higher resolution and cost savings. I hope to see such correlations in the future...

Mr. Jones

quite the opposite

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

In theory this can save money AND increase reliability AND have no negative perceived quality/value implications. This is achieved by integrating numerous control functions into fewer ones. The typical car has more than a dozen processors in it, all kinds of connections, etc. Cars are slowly moving toward an electrically SIMPLER 'network' with fewer larger processing units. The upside is the aforementioned. The downside is outside warranty you can expect a humongous bill if one of these units breaks.

LexFather

He is correct. EVERY company cuts costs, not just Toyota. If you don't your company will die. Period.

I do hope as those above has stated, quality IS NOT sacrificed in the process.

At that point, why buy a Toyota, if its not reliable? THey would have a big issue.

Nextourer

Hopefully it means cheaper repairs because the modules are spread over an even larger number of vehicles.

Yes. Please upgrade the interiors!! Bring back the mid 90s Toyota quality interior.

I think the new Highlander is the first vehicle under VI?