Here’s why the Toyota FJ Cruiser had a competitor’s initial in its name

In this episode I provide the history of the Toyota FJ Cruiser, a rugged SUV that sold in North America from 2006 to 2014, and also sold in other world markets beyond 2014. The FJ Cruiser mimicked the look of Toyota's FJ40 Land Cruiser from the 1960s and 70s, although larger and much less fuel efficient. Its poor gas mileage didn't affect sales initially, as U.S. and Canadian sales surpassed expectations in its first couple years. But when the recession hit in 2008, sales dropped by over 50% that year, and sales only averaged around 15,000 per year from 2009 to 2014. But sales stayed on in other markets, with the Middle East being the most popular outside of North America, which led to it continuing production there until 2022. Starting in 2025, Toyota introduced the Land Cruiser FJ, the closest example to a replacement of the original FJ Cruiser, but it will not be offered in the U.S. or Canada. Background music by Nick Weiss - nickweissmusic.com