Prius might not be built in the U.S. after all
by Sebastian Blanco on Nov 14th 2008 at 3:57PM 
click for more images of the 2009 Toyota Prius
Earlier this year, we heard rumors that Toyota was planning on building the Prius in the U.S. (Mississippi) for the first time, starting in 2010. But, thanks to less-than-certain profits in the current economic situation, Automotive News (subs req'd) is now saying that an unsourced article in the Japanese Nikkei newspaper says the start date might be pushed back to 2011 - or later. The Mississippi economy is not pleased.
What's kind of ironic is that the idea to shift production to the U.S. was prompted, in part, by the escalating cost of fuel/transportation. It's gotta be hard to be an auto exec these days.
Gallery: 2009 Toyota Prius
[Source: Automotive News (subs req'd)]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jpm100 4:45PM (11/14/2008)
With the domestic industry going under, why would they need those token facilities anymore? They can get cheaper labor in China if capacity is maxed in Japan.
The domestic companies survive, they'll come up with something else.
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Brn 10:06AM (11/17/2008)
"With the domestic industry going under, why would they need those token facilities anymore?"
For the same reason they had them in the first place, to avoid tariffs.
Not to mention with more unemployed auto workers, cheap and skilled labor is more plentiful. The only problem is buyers.
Cynthia 3:03AM (11/16/2008)
I have watched for over 40 years as they have taken jobs from American's and moved their plants overseas and to Mexico. Then they ship the cars, shampoo, dishes, or whatever they make back to for us to buy at an OUTRAGEOUS prices. What kind of garbage is that? They can make it cheaper there and sell it to us at the highest of prices and put much profit in their pockets. While proud American's are put out of jobs. We import more then we export and that too is garbage. We let an asian company have our recycle at a cheap price and she then comes on TV and brags about how she has become a Billonaire making products out of our recycle materials. JUST RUB OUR NOSE IN IT WHY DON"T YOU!!! The rich business men do not care that American's are out of work they only care about thier bottom line and who has the most money. They should be ashamed how they treat the American people.
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kurt 8:45AM (11/17/2008)
Not sure if you've noticed, but the Japanese economy is not doing so well either... If you don't want "shampoo, dishes, or a car" built abroad, don't buy it!! Toyota is not a non-profit organization, they need to stay profitable to stay in business. Perhaps GM should follow their lead...
Cynthia 5:11PM (11/17/2008)
I drive a 89 Buick and it's GMC and I lost what your comment meant about them following? I do make sure at least 90% of the time that what I buy is American made. It becomes more and more difficult to do so when big american business moves their companies to other countries. The import and export is a great idea in it's original form, where it was supposed to benefit both sides. Somehow through the years that scale has become very unbalanced and clearly not in American's favor. I am all for free enterprise and people becoming self sufficient but I also believe that you can't build happiness on the misery of others. There are enough resources in the world for everyone to profit and benefit from. How can it be a good thing for big business to strip jobs from people right here at home and put their companies in other counties? It can't except for only themselves. People have to have balance in all parts of life or it doesn't bring about peace and tranquility. This is why we have had all these natural disasters unleashed on us I believe. We have acted ungodly and his anger is being unleashed. We must start to think of others and the good of other human beings or we will be in bigger trouble then just business. God has no problem with people making an honest profit, King Solom was rich. God has a problem with us acting like Ramsey's and being rich and look at what God unleashed when they forgot to keep that in mind. So if I have issue with the American big business it is because of this attitude we have and need to return to the one that worked when America functioned well. Sure it's a pipe dream that we could actually come together "UNITED" in this effort. I wonder why we don't just call ourselves just America because it's been a long time since we have been a "UNITED" STATES.
Frank Erickson 4:23PM (11/17/2008)
Part of the global climate change problem is fuel burned shipping products between continents. Part of the solution is to decentralize production of all goods and services to conserve energy and make individual communities self-sufficient which is counter to international corporate profits. We are about to find out which forces will win the resource wars - corporate greed or individual needs.
Think globally, live locally.
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