Toyota to Build Prius Hybrid in Mississippi
Company Makes Changes in U.S. Productions: Suspends Tundra Pickup Production

Keith Burton - GCN   7/10/08

Toyota is responding to changes in consumer demand and improving the production efficiency and stability of its North American operations by adjusting production mix at three plants. The changes include the addition of the Prius hybrid sedan to its North American production lineup that has always been  built in Japan.

Toyota officials report that the company will build their high-tech Prius sedan at their plant under construction in Blue Springs. Production is scheduled to begin in late 2010. The company says the Prius will join the Kentucky-built Camry Hybrid as the second Toyota hybrid built in North America. Moving the Prius production to the U.S. enables Toyota to better respond to increased consumer demand for hybrid vehicles.

In the automobile world, this news is big, and big for Mississippi.

“It is exciting news that Toyota has decided to begin manufacturing the Prius hybrid sedan in the U.S., and Mississippi is proud to have been chosen as the location of this important new venture," said Governor Haley Barbour in a statement released after Toyota's announcement. "The Prius is the leading hybrid car in the world and the environmental car of the future; it is appropriate it will be built at Toyota’s model environmentally-sustainable plant in Blue Springs.

“While the decision to manufacture the Prius in Mississippi means a delay in opening the plant from spring to fall 2010, it’s worth the wait. Mississippi thinks long term and in the long term this is a grand slam home run,” said Barbour.

Toyota is making other changes to its U.S. production operations. The Highlander mid-size SUV, originally scheduled to be built in Mississippi, will now be manufactured in Princeton, Ind., beginning in Fall 2009.

Also changing is production of the Tundra full-size pick-up truck, currently built in Indiana and Texas. The Tundra will be consolidated at the San Antonio plant in Spring 2009.

In addition, Toyota will temporarily suspend Tundra and Sequoia production beginning August 8 due to the declining overall market for full size trucks and SUVs. Production is scheduled to resume in early November. Team members at both facilities, as well as the Huntsville, Ala. plant that builds Tundra and Sequoia engines, will continue to be provided work.

"The truck market continues to worsen, so unfortunately we must temporarily suspend production. But this good news about production mix demonstrates our long-term commitment to our North American operations and to our team members, supplier partners, and communities where our plants are located," said Jim Wiseman, vice president/external affairs for Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (TEMA). "By using this downturn as an opportunity to develop team members and improve our operations, we hope to emerge even stronger."

Toyota  established operations in North America in 1957 and currently operates 13 manufacturing plants. In addition, new plants are under construction in Ontario and Mississippi. Toyota directly employs over 43,000 in North America and its investment here is currently valued at more than $21 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design. Toyota’s annual purchasing of parts, materials, goods and services from North American suppliers totals more than $30 billion per year.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com.