2003 Press Releases
CERTPOINT - Vuepoint and Toyota Motor Sales Partner to Deliver Dealer Knowledge on the Newest Brand in the Automotive Industry, the Scion
-- Toyota and Vuepoint demonstrate industry leadership with breakthrough online product launch --
LONG ISLAND, N.Y., July 22, 2003 - Vuepoint, Corp., a solutions provider that rapidly and effectively transfers product knowledge throughout enterprises and complex sales channels, today announced that Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., is successfully using Vuepoint’s solution to launch Scion, an entirely new product line.
Scion is an exciting brand targeted at an emerging group of new car buyers known as Generation Y (Gen Y). These vehicles demonstrate Toyota’s recognition of the future importance of Gen Y to the automotive market. Scion represents not only new products, but a new business and marketing model created with this buyer group in mind. For the first time in company and industry history, all of Toyota’s preparation and knowledge transfer for the Scion product and sales methodology has occurred online, resulting in faster time to market, increased cost-savings, and greater vehicle knowledge retention.
Utilizing Vuepoint’s VLS software, dealers are learning how to identify specific qualities of the Scion core customer group, their expectations and purchasing behavior, as well as the details of Scion’s “Pure Price” solution specially designed for Gen Y customers. Scion dealers also learn cutting-edge sales techniques that maximize technology to their sales advantage by incorporating online communications and tools into the sales process.
“This is more complicated than a typical product rollout, and Vuepoint’s contribution is integral to its success because it allows Toyota, in a very short time frame, to bring dealers across the country up to speed on Scion as well as how to relate to a new type of customer,” said Rick Taniguchi, Associate Dean of eLearning at the University of Toyota, founded in 1998 as part of the company’s “Business Revolution” campaign to streamline overall corporate operations.
Toyota selected Vuepoint VLS after reviewing platforms from over 20 other vendors. The decision ultimately came down to Vuepoint’s market leadership, technological flexibility, and substantial return on investment (ROI). To date, Toyota has utilized Vuepoint’s enterprise-wide solution to more quickly and effectively reach 60,000 Toyota and Lexus dealers nationwide with brand and product knowledge. Within 48 months, Toyota estimates it will realize over $15 million in hard savings by utilizing the Vuepoint solution to streamline and empower their dealership sales process.
“Vuepoint is excited to help Toyota launch and market a new brand and product to an entirely new market,” said Ara Ohanian, President and CEO of Vuepoint. “By equipping the sales force with key knowledge before many dealers will actually see the car in person or speak with a potential customer, Toyota gains a critical speed-to-market advantage in its highly competitive industry.”
For more information on Vuepoint, visit www.vuepoint.com.
Toyota Motor Corporation and its subsidiaries produced more than 5.8 million vehicles worldwide in calendar year 2000. Toyota vehicles are manufactured in 25 countries/locations and are renowned for their quality, reliability and value. Toyota is the third largest vehicle manufacturer in the world and the fourth largest maker of vehicles in North America, producing more than one million cars and trucks in five North American plants in 2000.
Scion is the new car marque from Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. Scion’s mission is to satisfy trendsetting youthful buyers through distinctive products and an innovative, consumer-driven process. Scion’s first two vehicles, the xA and xB, like the brand, are aspirational, provocative and authentic and arrived in 105 California dealerships on June 9, 2003. Scion will respond to an emerging culture of new car buyers with unique products, targeted marketing and a dedicated sales process. For more information, www.scion.com.
Vuepoint provides comprehensive knowledge transfer solutions that allow global enterprises to rapidly deliver revenue-generating product and service knowledge throughout sales, marketing and customer support channels. Vuepoint combines patented, award-winning technology, methodologies and services to help increase sales and market share for blue-chip clients including AOL Time-Warner, Black & Decker, The Hartford, Toyota, and Whirlpool. Founded in 1996, privately held Vuepoint serves hundreds of thousands of users in 35 countries. Vuepoint has won numerous awards, received top-ranked service and solution ratings from industry analysts, and maintains best financial stability ratings from leading financial institutions and information providers. Please visit www.vuepoint.com.