Toyota will build a car at Mississippi plant, but maybe not the Prius
2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery
We've been following the development of Toyota's plant in Tupelo, Mississippi with interest since the automaker first broke ground at the site in 2006, mostly because this is the location where the Highlander Hybrid SUV or Prius hybrid hatchback were supposed to be built here in the United States. With the global economic downturn in full swing, Toyota has been hit just as hard as any other automaker, leading to major changes to the Japanese company's plans in Tupelo. Speaking to Automotive News, Steve St. Angelo, senior vice president of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. said:
We're very committed to that plant. But we're looking at our whole portfolio and asking which products it makes sense to build or not build in North America.In other words, it's becoming increasingly unlikely that the new 2010 Prius will be built in the U.S. any time soon. Construction of the plant was halted after the exterior shell was completed back in December of 2008 and work won't begin again until Toyota has a solid plan in place on how best to utilize the facility. For what it's worth, Toyota officials tell our friends at Prius Chat that there's no truth to rumors that the plant's workers have been relocated and that the Prius will indeed be the first vehicle to roll down the assembly line in Tupelo.
Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David 4:25PM (6/13/2009)
Dear Toyota,
Do the right thing. Build the Prius there. Just think of all the pollution that can be stopped by not shipping fully built cars here from Japan.
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Chris M 6:20PM (6/13/2009)
I suspect that Toyota will decide which models to build here based on economics - how much demand is there, which in turn would determine how much Toyota could save on shipping costs. On that basis, it could be the Corolla, or the RAV 4, Or the Prius, or maybe even the rumored Aveo Hybrid.
Of course, we must take into account the fact that Toyota already has several production plants in the US, their most popular models might be produced elsewhere. Their plant in Fremont, California would be ideally sited to supply the local market with the much in demand Prius.
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Matt 8:34PM (6/13/2009)
Toyota would sell 10 times as many copies of the Prius here if they could slap "Made in the USA" on the end of their next commercial. I don't know the sales figures, but I'll bet the US is the top market for that car, or at least in the top two or three, so it really makes since to capitalize on our love of hybrids AND make use of that facility. They'll wise up.
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STEVEN BROWN 10:22AM (7/12/2009)
I live in New Orleans and have a really good job in the commercial credit industry. I have always thought about relocating to the country for some clean living. My wife is from Northeast Mississippi originally. Does anyone have an idea of what kind of jobs will be offered and what types of schools are in the area?
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