When Having a Lot of Dealers Helps Ford, GM, Dodge

Toyota's dealer network in the U.S. isn't far-reaching enough to rack up big sales for the new Tundra pickup, says Chambers Williams, an auto journalist based in Texas, which leads the nation in light-truck deliveries.

Of Toyota's approximately 1,200 dealers, most are in urban and suburban markets. Unlike domestic-brand dealers, Toyota retailers lack a presence in outreaching areas.

“They are not in rural areas where a lot of pickup trucks are sold,” says Williams, who owns a Chevrolet Silverado. “People aren't going to drive 200 miles to buy a Toyota Tundra. Not in Texas anyway.”