Gojirra99

Posted Sep 17th 2008 8:57AM

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Gojirra99

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

The Prius is a halo car for Toyota.

They should keep it under the Toyota name for immediate recognition and correlation.

SLegacy99

This idea has been going around for awhile.

spwolf

It would probably be Toyota Prius Sedan, Toyota Prius SUV, etc, etc...

it makes a lot of sense to make dedicated hybrid lineup which would be built from grounds up for hybrid vehicles...

SLegacy99

I know that the Mercury brand is changing over to European Fords, but I had thought it would be a good idea if Ford made that a dedicated hybrid brand.

I'm all about this idea. I wish someone would do it cause I want to see if it works or not.

Trexus

I think it could make sense. We would have:

Scion - Younger generation vehicles
Toyota - Main stream vehicles
Prius - All hybrid vehicles
Lexus - Luxury vehicles

Do it Toyota...

SLegacy99

And Subaru. I'm all about Subaru becoming a Toyota brand. They could be the Pontiac of Toyota. Only not suck so bad.

butterbeer

its so futuristic looking...but at the same time so ugly...LOL

eyezack87

iTrader: (4)

That would be one expensive tint job as the doors can be tinted as well lol

-J-P-L-

"Prius", for all intents and purposes is already a "brand". Kind of like the way "iPod" is for Apple for example.

How often do you hear someone say "Toyota Prius"? You probably don't.
It's just Prius. Although everyone knows it's a Toyota.

And I can't believe this is "news" again. It's been news at least twice before over the last 2 years.

CK6Speed

iTrader: (1)

I don't think it it is quite there as a brand image yet. While you are correct that most people I know that talk about the Prius just call it a Prius, that goes the same for almost any car. Most people I know just call it a Camry, Corolla, Civic, GS, LS and such. I rarely hear people actually call their cars a Honda Accord, or Lexus GS when speaking.

Trexus

Check out this article from BusinessWeek. For 2008 Toyota at number 6 as a brand is worth $34 Billion and if you go further down the list Lexus at number 90 as a brand is worth $3.6 Billion. So combined that makes Toyota/Lexus worth $37.6 Billion. Go Toyota!

09/18/2008 05:36:20 PM EDT -- PR Newswire

BusinessWeek/Interbrand Release Annual Ranking of The 100 Best Global Brands


Coca-Cola retains the No. 1 spot; Google tops the big winners list with a 43% increase in brand value since 2007


NEW YORK, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ --- Google, Apple, and Amazon are among this year's top gainers in BusinessWeek's annual ranking of the Best Global Brands; Merrill Lynch, Gap, and Morgan Stanley are among the companies that have slipped dramatically down the list. For the eighth consecutive year, BusinessWeek has teamed up with Interbrand, a leading brand consultancy, to publish the ranking of the top 100 global brands by brand value.


Coca-Cola remains the No. 1 brand for the eighth year in a row. Yet a notable shift in this year's rankings was made by IBM, which took over the No. 2 position from Microsoft (No. 3). Google also moved into the top 10 brands, at No. 10, after ranking at No. 20 in 2007.


Every time a recession threatens, executives glare at the balance sheet and wonder aloud about one particular expense: brand building. As the business climate has worsened in recent months, a number of blue-chip companies have announced plans to cut marketing costs, including Coca-Cola and Visa. U.S. automakers have already done so. As have several hard-hit banks. Then there are the other guys--companies that refuse to let tough times distract them from their long-term brand-building efforts. Sometimes they see a recession as the perfect moment to get a leg up on a weakened rival. Others strengthen their brands to ward off discount competitors. Still others feel they have a knockout new product that requires support.


"In this challenging economy, it is important for BusinessWeek to offer its audience insight into the best global practices for increasing brand value," said Stephen J. Adler, editor-in-chief of BusinessWeek. "Many of this year's Best Global Brands provide a good example of how to weather difficult times and emerge stronger and better-positioned to compete."


"The 100 Best Global Brands are a reflection of the global economy - the current credit crisis in the U.S., the growth of emerging markets and the increased emphasis on sustainability are all key trends that resulted in brands rising or failing on the list," said Jez Frampton, CEO of Interbrand. "The increasing complexities of the global economy reinforce the importance of protecting and growing a brand. It is a company's most valuable asset - and a far less volatile asset than others during a time of economic uncertainty."


BusinessWeek chose Interbrand's methodology because it evaluates brand value in the same way other corporate assets are valued--on the basis of how much it is likely to earn for the company in the future. Interbrand uses a combination of analysts' projections, company financial documents, and its own qualitative and quantitative analysis to arrive at a net present value of those earnings. The brand values are based on data collected during the 12 months prior to June 30, 2008. So more recent developments, including the troubles at Merrill Lynch and AIG, are not factored into the brand valuations but are included in the descriptions of each brand.


BusinessWeek's special report, Best Global Brands, is featured in the September 29, 2008 issue, on newsstands Friday, September 19th. Expanded content, including full methodology, is available on BusinessWeek.com at www.businessweek.com/go/brand.


About BusinessWeek

BusinessWeek is a global source of trusted content that informs and inspires business leaders to make smarter decisions in their professional and personal lives. Founded in 1929 and published by the McGraw-Hill Companies, BusinessWeek magazine is the market leader, with more than 4.7 million readers each week in 140 countries. Local language editions include Chinese, Israeli and Bahasa Indonesian. Launched in 1994, BusinessWeek.com is the preeminent provider of daily, essential business news, information, and services to business decision-makers. Reaching 85% of the nation's households, BusinessWeek TV delivers important business, consumer and financial news to television viewers every week.


About InterbrandInterbrand, the leading brand consultancy, combines the rigorous strategy and analysis of a management consulting practice with the entrepreneurial and creative spirit of branding and design. The company offers a comprehensive array of consulting services that guide clients in the creation, enhancement, maintenance and valuation of their most valuable asset -- their brands. Founded in 1974, Interbrand has offices in over 30 cities in more than 20 countries around the globe and clients from among the most respected businesses. For more information, visit the world's only online exchange about branding, produced by Interbrand, at www.brandchannel.com.











BusinessWeek/Interbrand's Annual Ranking of the Best Global Brands For 2008


Rank Company 2008 Percent Country of
Brand Change Ownership
Value (over 2007)

$MILLIONS

1 Coca-Cola 66,667 2% US
2 IBM 59,031 3% US
3 Microsoft 59,007 1% US
4 GE 53,086 3% US
5 Nokia 35,942 7% Finland
6 Toyota 34,050 6% Japan
7 Intel 31,261 1% US
8 McDonald's 31,049 6% US
9 Disney 29,251 0% US
10 Google 25,590 43% US
11 Mercedes 25,577 9% Germany
12 Hewlett-Packard 23,509 6% US
13 BMW 23,298 8% Germany
14 Gillette 22,069 8% US
15 American Express 21,940 5% US
16 Louis Vuitton 21,602 6% France
17 Cisco 21,306 12% US
18 Marlboro 21,300 0% US
19 Citi 20,174 -14% US
20 Honda 19,079 6% Japan
21 Samsung 17,689 5% S. Korea
22 H&M 13,840 N/A Sweden
23 Oracle 13,831 11% US
24 Apple 13,724 24% US
25 Sony 13,583 5% Japan
26 Pepsi 13,249 3% US
27 HSBC 13,143 -3% UK
28 Nescafe 13,055 1% Switzerland
29 Nike 12,672 6% US
30 UPS 12,621 5% US
31 SAP 12,228 13% Germany
32 Dell 11,695 1% US
33 Budweiser 11,438 -2% US
34 Merrill Lynch 11,399 -21% US
35 Ikea 10,913 8% Sweden
36 Canon 10,876 3% Japan
37 J.P. Morgan 10,773 -6% US
38 Goldman Sachs 10,331 -3% US
39 Kellogg's 9,710 4% US
40 Nintendo 8,772 13% Japan
41 UBS 8,740 -11% Switzerland
42 Morgan Stanley 8,696 -16% US
43 Philips 8,325 8% Netherlands
44 Thomson Reuters 8,313 N/A Canada
45 Gucci 8,254 7% Italy
46 eBay 7,991 7% US
47 Accenture 7,948 9% US
48 Siemens 7,943 3% Germany
49 Ford 7,896 -12% US
50 Harley-Davidson 7,609 -1% US






Rank Company 2008 Percent Country of
Brand Change Ownership
Value (over 2007)

$MILLIONS

51 L'Oreal 7,508 7% France
52 MTV 7,193 4% US
53 Volkswagen 7,047 8% Germany
54 AIG 7,022 -6% US
55 AXA 7,001 -4% France
56 Heinz 6,646 2% US
57 Colgate 6,437 7% US
58 Amazon.com 6,434 19% US
59 Xerox 6,393 6% US
60 Chanel 6,355 9% France
61 Wrigley's 6,105 6% US
62 Zara 5,955 15% Spain
63 Nestle 5,592 5% Switzerland
64 KFC 5,582 -2% US
65 Yahoo! 5,496 -9% US
66 Danone 5,408 8% France
67 Audi 5,407 11% Germany
68 Caterpillar 5,288 5% US
69 Avon 5,264 3% US
70 Adidas 5,072 6% Germany
71 Rolex 4,956 8% Switzerland
72 Hyundai 4,846 9% S. Korea
73 BlackBerry 4,802 N/A Canada
74 Kleenex 4,636 1% US
75 Porsche 4,603 9% Germany
76 Hermes 4,575 8% France
77 Gap 4,357 -20% US
78 Panasonic 4,281 4% Japan
79 Cartier 4,236 10% Switzerland
80 Tiffany & Co 4,208 5% US
81 Pizza Hut 4,097 -4% US
82 Allianz 4,033 2% Germany
83 Moet & Chandon 3,951 6% France
84 BP 3,911 3% UK
85 Starbucks 3,879 7% US
86 ING 3,768 -3% Netherlands
87 Motorola 3,721 -10% US
88 Duracell 3,682 2% US
89 Smirnoff 3,590 6% UK
90 Lexus 3,588 7% Japan
91 Prada 3,585 9% Italy
92 Johnson&Johnson 3,582 4% US
93 Ferrari 3,527 N/A Italy
94 Armani 3,526 N/A Italy
95 Hennessy 3,513 -3% France
96 Marriott 3,502 N/A US
97 Shell 3,471 4% Netherlands
98 Nivea 3,401 9% Germany
99 FedEx 3,359 N/A US
100 Visa 3,338 N/A US







SOURCE BusinessWeek

CONTACT: BusinessWeek Contacts: Patti Straus, +1-212-512-2680, or Heather Carpenter, +1-212-512-2854; Interbrand Contacts: Lisa Marsala, +1-212-798-7646, or Graham Hales, +44-7710-742347


Copyright © 2008 PR Newswire

pagemaster

I can see a Prius SUV but Toyota better keep it under the Toyota umbrella and now try to make its own brand like Lexus.

-J-P-L-

Wal*Mart, Chevrolet, Home Depot, ect. aren't on the list while companies I've never heard of are??

Am I missing something here? Those are the two largest retailers in the world and Chevy is still one of the largest auto lines in the world.

I find it amazing that a company that mixes sugar and water are easily #1.