Toyota to resume construction of new plants in China, U.S.+

NAGOYA, Dec. 5 Kyodo -
Toyota Motor Corp. has decided to resume construction of new plants in China
and the United States that had been suspended amid the global economic crisis
in an effort to respond to the expanding Chinese market and the appreciation of
the yen, sources close to the matter said Saturday.

Toyota aims to commence operations at the new plant in Mississippi as early as
2011 to produce the Corolla passenger car for the U.S. market, instead of its
initial plan to produce the Prius gas-electric hybrid car, the sources said.
The recent yen's appreciation against the U.S. dollar has prompted the company
to conclude that it is necessary to boost local production in the United
States, they added.
In China, the plant in the city of Changchun, which will be built as a joint
venture with major Chinese automaker FAW Group Corp., could become operational
by the end of March 2011, the sources said.
Toyota held a groundbreaking ceremony for the plant, which will have an annual
production capacity of 100,000 units, in October 2008.
But the Japanese automaker froze the plan amid the economic crisis.
The company already has a plant in Changchun, producing the Prius
gasoline-electric hybrid car.
China is expected to overtake the United States as the world's largest auto
market in terms of new car sales volume this year.
Toyota is anticipating sales of around 700,000 units in China this year and is
aiming to sell at least 800,000 units in the country next year.
==Kyodo
2009-12-06 00:13:03