Why did Toyota stop making scions?
Scion, Toyota's youth-oriented brand, was introduced in 2003 with the goal of attracting younger buyers with stylish, affordable, and customizable vehicles. However, in 2016, Toyota announced the discontinuation of the Scion brand. This decision left many car enthusiasts wondering why such a bold and innovative brand was retired. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons behind Toyota’s decision to stop making Scions and what it means for the automotive industry.
The Origins and Purpose of Scion
Scion was created to address a specific challenge Toyota faced in the early 2000s: appealing to younger drivers. The brand was designed to offer vehicles that were affordable, fun to drive, and customizable, with a focus on unique designs and a no-haggle pricing model. Scion initially succeeded in capturing the attention of millennials and younger buyers, with models like the xB and tC becoming popular choices.
Why Toyota Discontinued Scion
Despite its initial success, several factors contributed to Toyota’s decision to discontinue the Scion brand:
- Declining Sales: Over time, Scion's sales began to decline. By 2015, the brand was struggling to maintain its market share, with annual sales dropping significantly compared to its peak years.
- Shifting Consumer Preferences: The automotive market saw a shift in consumer preferences, with buyers gravitating toward SUVs and crossovers rather than compact cars and coupes, which were Scion's primary offerings.
- Brand Overlap: Many of Scion's models were based on existing Toyota platforms, leading to overlap between the two brands. For example, the Scion iA was essentially a rebadged Toyota Yaris, and the Scion FR-S was a joint venture with Subaru (marketed as the Subaru BRZ).
- Cost Efficiency: Maintaining a separate brand requires significant marketing and operational resources. Toyota decided it would be more efficient to integrate Scion's models into the Toyota lineup rather than continue to support a standalone brand.
Ultimately, Toyota determined that the Scion brand had fulfilled its purpose of attracting younger buyers and that its vehicles could continue to thrive under the Toyota name.
What Happened to Scion Models?
When Scion was discontinued in 2016, Toyota absorbed many of its models into the main Toyota lineup. Here’s what happened to some of the most popular Scion vehicles:
- Scion FR-S: Rebranded as the Toyota 86, this sporty coupe continues to be a favorite among driving enthusiasts.
- Scion iA: Renamed the Toyota Yaris iA, this compact sedan remained a practical and affordable option for buyers.
- Scion iM: Integrated into the Toyota lineup as the Toyota Corolla iM, offering a hatchback alternative to the popular Corolla sedan.
- Scion tC: The tC was discontinued entirely, as its sales had declined significantly by the time of Scion's closure.
This transition allowed Toyota to retain the best aspects of Scion while streamlining its operations and focusing on its core brand.
The Legacy of Scion
Although Scion is no longer around, its impact on the automotive industry is still felt. The brand demonstrated the importance of catering to younger buyers and experimenting with bold designs and marketing strategies. Many of the lessons Toyota learned from Scion have influenced its approach to designing and marketing vehicles today.
In the end, Scion’s story is a reminder that even innovative brands must adapt to changing market conditions. While the Scion name may be gone, its spirit lives on in the Toyota vehicles that continue to appeal to drivers of all ages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Scion cars reliable?
While the Scion brand may no longer be in production, it was a subsidiary of Toyota, a brand known for producing durable and reliable vehicles. This reliability has transferred well to the Scion xB, which boasts a generally solid track record of performance and minimal major issues.
Are Scions reliable cars?
The Scion xB's average reliability score is 4 out of 5, which puts it in the upper tier of used cars in terms of dependability. While the Scion brand may no longer be in production, it was a subsidiary of Toyota, a brand known for producing durable and reliable vehicles.
Why did Scion flop?
Interestingly, one of the reasons Scion failed was that their target demographic were not buying into the brand at all (for multiple reasons) but the older, middle aged people were the ones buying into it.
Are Scion parts still made?
It doesn't matter if your xA or iQ are no longer in production, Toyota still builds and tests OEM Scion parts. Olathe Toyota Parts Center stocks these genuine Scion parts and accessories. The Scion is a dependable vehicle, but everyday use can cause some parts to wear out.
Who owns Scion now?
Toyota
In 2016, the Scion brand found a new home at Toyota. While the Scion badge may have changed, our commitment remains the same – to embrace our customers' diverse interests and lifestyles, and bring great products to market to meet their needs.
What replaced the Toyota Scion?
Some Scion models gained mainstream appeal, but the brand was discontinued and absorbed back into Toyota in 2016. The Scion iM was rebranded as the rebadged Toyota Corolla iM, and evolved into the Corolla Hatchback.
What Scion cars is Toyota keeping?
As part of the brand transition, beginning in August 2016, MY17 Scion vehicles will be rebadged as Toyotas. The FR-S sports car, iA sedan and iM 5-door hatchback will become part of the Toyota family. The tC sports coupe will have a final release series edition and end production in August 2016.
Why did Toyota discontinue the Scion?
Why did Toyota dissolve Scion? Like "Project Genesis" and the Toyota Echo, Scion came off to a roaring start. It sold more than 173,000 cars in 2006, but sales tumbled by 2013 as the brand sold fewer than 69,000 cars. The trend continued in 2014 and 2015, when Scion sold only 58,000 and 56,000 cars, respectively.
Will Scion ever come back?
They've simply been combined into the Toyota name and are created in Japan. Again, Scion vehicles could come back in the future. Even if they do, their primary manufacturing location will still be in Japan, as that is where the core of the company is located.
What are the most reliable car brands?
The Scores:
| Rank | Brand | Predicted Reliability Score (100-point scale) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subaru | 68 |
| 2 | Lexus | 65 |
| 3 | Toyota | 62 |
| 4 | Honda | 59 |
