PORTS, BOATS, AND AUTOMOBILES

The distribution models employed by automobile importers such as Toyota and Honda are an important component of the automakers' general business strategies. Toyota's approach is dock-based; vehicles arriving in the U.S. from Japan are kept at the port for cleaning and customization. The dock becomes a satellite factory. This method has increased Toyota's flexibility, since it allows the company to produce high volumes of a particular model and then add accessories to meet regional tastes at the dock. In contrast, Honda's approach is dealer- based. This method gives Honda greater freedom to experiment and introduce new models. Because Honda introduces new products to the market more frequently, it needs to have a fast, efficient plant-to- dealer distribution method. Vehicles are customized at Honda dealerships rather than at the dock.

• Record URL:
  http://www.uctc.net/access/access22.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Spring 2003
• Corporate Authors:

  University of California Transportation Center (UCTC)

  University of California, Berkeley
  2614 Dwight Way, 2nd Floor
  Berkeley, CA  United States  94720-1782
• Authors:
  • HALL, P V
• Publication Date: 2003

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 16-21
• Serial:
  • Access
  • Issue Number: 22
  • Publisher: University of California Transportation Center (UCTC)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Landside operations (Ports); Logistics; Physical distribution; Port authorities
• Uncontrolled Terms: Dealer-based approach; Dock-based approach
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Highways; Marine Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00965051
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 3 2003 12:00AM