Rohrich Toyota continues to make the most of its momentum

When you catch the wave, you’re in for a very good ride. Over the course of the last several years, according to Mark Podrosky, that’s very much what happened with Toyota. “We’ve been fortunate to ride the crest over the past seven or eight years,” said Podrosky, general manager of Rohrich Toyota. While the crest has subsided somewhat with the ebbing economy, Toyota continues to make the most of its momentum. And so does the Rohrich dealership. “Even now,” said Podrosky, “we are doing a good job, and holding on to our market share.”

Located in Pittsburgh on West Liberty Avenue one mile south of the Liberty Tunnels, the Toyota dealership has been in business since 1980. It is part of the Rohrich Automotive Group, a familiar name in Pittsburgh. Situated on an acre of land, the three-story facility provides full service to Toyota customers. A showroom and a state-of-the-art service center are found on the first floor. There are 17 bays in the service area, where 15 Toyota technicians work, with four of them classified as Master Technicians. Administrative offices are on the second floor, and the third floor comprises a display area, with room enough for 175 vehicles. The facility also has a body shop. And, for the convenience of customers, the dealership is home to a rental agency.

Toyota and Scion together offer more than 20 products. They appeal, said Podrosky, “to all ages and demographics.” The 2009 core products continue to hold their own, attracting buyers in a highly competitive automotive market.

The popular 2009 Camry, which has been America’s best-selling passenger car in recent years, offers an EPA highway rating of 34 mpg, and the 2009 Camry Hybrid, an EPA rating of 40 mpg in the city. The 2009 Highlander combines the refinements of a sedan and the function of an SUV, and earned the top five-star rating from the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration’s front- and side-impact tests. And Prius earned its reputation for fuel efficiency with a seamless integration of its gas engine and an emission-free electric motor to achieve and EPA-estimated combined city/highway 55 mpg.

Much of the automotive manufacturer’s success is due to the research and development (R&D) efforts it has made. Even in these slower economic times, said Podrosky, R&D will continue unabated. “Toyota has not backed off R&D at all. We have a half-dozen new products on the horizon.” Results of the R&D can be seen in some 2010 models. Toyota touts the 2010 Prius, for example, as an all-new 50-mile-per-gallon rated third-generation hybrid vehicle. According to the company, it will be quieter, roomier, and equipped with advanced standard and available features such as a moonroof with solar panels, and four driving modes. The 2010 Camry and Camry Hybrid have an array of enhancements, inside and out, and an upgraded standard powertrain.

Interestingly enough, said Podrosky, 60 percent of the Toyota products sold in the U.S. market are made in the U.SA. “And,” he added, “Toyota plans to have even more production done in this country.”