(October 29, 2007) Toyota Motor Corporation, a first-time Vehicle Manufacturer of the SEMA Show, outlined its plans to increase aftermarket accessory sales at Monday's Education Week Luncheon and Keynote Address, featuring Brian Smith, corporate marketing manager, Toyota Trucks and SUVs. Standing next to a fully accessorized Toyota Tundra CrewMax 4x4 pickup, Smith said that dealers needed to fill the gap between genuine parts and aftermarket accessories. The full-size truck segment continues to lead in accessory sales and customization helps dealers make deals and improve closing ratios, according to Smith. He also listed strategies to increase aftermarket sales, including verbally suggesting accessorizing to customers, personalizing vehicles at the dealership, displaying clearly priced accessories at the dealership (or pre-accessorizing), and improving their availability.
Toyota has been active in improving accessory availability by expanding its offerings to 50 products. New point-of-purchase materials include a truck customizing guide featuring 80 pages of products, a truck customizing center, and a truck upfit engineering group, which organizes technical data and makes it more accessible to consumers. Toyota has also established partnerships with upfitters, including Weather Guard, Adrian Steel, Tommy Gate, and A.R.E., and launced a training program to help Toyota dealers increase accessory sales.
In addition, this is the first year Lexus has participated at the SEMA Show and the 2009 Toyota Corolla and Matrix will be introduced later this week.
