Scion iA and iM to become Toyotas

DETROIT -Toyota is killing its Scion brand after years of slumping sales.

As for Scion's 22 dedicated team members (which shows exactly how small this brand really is), all of them will be offered opportunities to take on new roles at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.in Torrance, Calif. Meanwhile, Scion regional representatives are slated to transition over to different positions in their respective Toyota sales offices. By comparison, Toyota sold more than 363,000 Corolla sedans previous year.

Introduced in 2003, the Scion line pitched a range of smaller cars costing less than US$20,000 to young buyers, from the xA mini-hatchback and the breadbox-like xB to the respected FR-S rear-wheel-drive sports vehicle, sister to Subaru's BRZ. The tC will have a final release series edition and end production in August, according to Toyota Motor Corp. Customers need not worry, as the service and fix process will be unaffected.

"This isn't a step backward for Scion; it's a leap forward for Toyota".

"Scion was the test bed", Carter said. Lentz was the founding vice president of the Scion brand.

Toyota's decision will have minimal impact on dealers and owners. Toyota says that Toyota as a brand has evolved to feature the dynamic styling and handling young people desire.

The cars were sold at Toyota dealerships, but in areas set off from the rest of the showroom. "Scion started strong, but its sales during the recession fell disproportionately compared with the rest of the market, as the brand was still relatively new and chose alternative marketing methods". But Kelley Blue Book senior analyst Karl Brauer said this is the first time a U.S.-specific brand launched by a Japanese manufacturer has been scrapped. About 70 percent of Scions were purchased by customers new to Toyota, and 50 percent of buyers were under 35 years old. The Toyota Camry sedan has been the best-selling auto in the US for 14 years, and the brand has a full lineup that appeals to Millennials and Baby Boomers alike.