Toyota eyes hybrid production at Miyagi plant+

NAGOYA, Jan. 1 Kyodo -
Toyota Motor Corp. plans to produce hybrid vehicles at a new assembly plant
that will start operating in 2011 in northeastern Japan, sources familiar with
the move said Friday.
Toyota intends to manufacture a Vitz-class subcompact hybrid model at the plant
in Ohira, Miyagi Prefecture, which would be one of the automaker's key domestic
production hubs for gasoline-electric cars along with its Aichi and Kyushu
factories.
Central Motor Co., a Toyota subsidiary, will run the Miyagi plant by
transferring its head office and manufacturing plant from Sagamihara, Kanagawa
Prefecture. Hybrids to be assembled in Miyagi are likely to go on sale in 2011
at around 1.5 million yen and with gas mileage of over 40 kilometers a liter --
a better performance than the popular Prius.
Another Toyota unit, Panasonic EV Energy Co., is expected to produce and supply
batteries for the new hybrid at a new plant scheduled to start operating later
this month in Taiwa, Miyagi Prefecture.
Several other Toyota group companies are also scheduled to manufacture auto
parts near the new Miyagi plant.
Toyota currently produces its Prius hybrid in the city of Toyota in Aichi
Prefecture, where its headquarters are located. Toyota Motor Kyushu Inc., a
subsidiary based in southwestern Japan, manufactures another hybrid SAI at its
plant in Miyawaka, Fukuoka Prefecture.
==Kyodo