Honda Kicks Toyota To The Curb In Parts Survey

By Jennifer McClelland

Spurring along a a small number of private feelings I will also throw into the mix, I have to report that Honda kicked Toyota's bumper in a study taken by patrons of their parts businesses. Honda overtook Toyota as the top company that auto parts suppliers prefer to do business with, according to an annual survey released Monday. Toyota has been the number one trader parts supplier ever since 2002, but its ratings have declined progressively over the previous two years, according to a analysis by Planning Perspectives Inc., that surveys manufacturing and service industries, based in Birmingham, Michigan. Honda's letters fell from last year as well, although not by as much. It was just sufficient of a grasp to beat out Toyota this year.

Japanese automakers continued the best relationships with their suppliers, in addition to Nissan coming in third in the middle of the six automakers ranked. Ford at last raised sufficient in points to come in fourth, followed by GM and then Chrysler LLC. "While Ford still has a great deal of work to do, what they're doing through their suppliers is effective," said John W. Henke, head and chief executive of Planning Perspectives, in a written statement. Toyota's customers complained of a younger, less experienced staff. Ford's improvement was due to its recent decision to "domesticate" the business more and transfer its top European purchasing administrator to the U.S. Ford also remains the single automaker amongst the Detroit "Large Three" that has not received state help so it just seems appropriate.

Despite being a Ford guy, I will comment on the Honda-Toyota findings.

I genuinely disagree with Toyota's defeat here. When I worked in the parts business a few years ago, I did corporate sales. I had to do a great deal of work with the dealerships and I was in fact pretty awed with the Toyota dealers in this region, not including the dealership in Westminster, Maryland. (They went on my "hit list", for lack of a improved word, after a few very bad experiences.) I also owned a Toyota. My first auto was a light brown 1995 Toyota Corolla.

I found it much easier to get dealer parts for that car than some domestics, and I am able to tell you certainly that Honda pieces are not as simple to find and are more pricey. I am unsure as to why more parts corporations prefer to do business with Honda over Toyota. Not only do I disagree with the findings, but I call into question the accuracy of the review, because it just makes no sense. - 21393

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