ID :
12182
Fri, 07/11/2008 - 12:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/12182
The shortlink copeid
Toyota's U.S. production to shift to smaller, fuel-efficient cars
TOKYO, July 11 Kyodo - Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it will place greater emphasis on making smaller, more fuel-efficient models, including the Prius gas-electric hybrid car, at its U.S. factories, while concentrating production of the larger Tundra pickup truck at its plant in Texas.
Toyota will allocate production of the Prius to a factory currently under construction in the state of Mississippi, dropping initial plans to use the factory to make the Highlander sport utility vehicle, the automakersaid.
Toyota will manufacture the Prius ultra fuel-efficient car on U.S. soil for the first time -- its second hybrid model to be produced at a U.S. location after the Camry Hybrid car. The Camry Hybrid is being produced at Toyota MotorManufacturing, Kentucky, Inc.
As for the Highlander, Toyota will begin production in the fall of 2009 atToyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc., the automaker said.
The changes in Toyota's production plans are designed to ''enhance its ability to flexibly respond to rapid fluctuations in North American market demand,'' while ''facilitating a stable supply of North American-made vehicles,'' it saidin a statement.
The increase in gasoline prices has been crimping demand for larger automobilesthat consume more fuel.
U.S. sales of Toyota vehicles dived 21.4 percent in June from the previous year as surging gas prices curtailed sales of larger gas-guzzling models and a spike in demand for fuel-efficient models including hybrids outstripped highfuel-economy models in stock.
Sales of Toyota's Prius and other hybrid models surged 45 percent in all of 2007 to 278,000 units. Sales of the Hybrid in the January-May period topped thecorresponding number a year earlier.
Toyota said production of the Tundra truck, currently built at the Indiana plant and Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc., will be consolidated at theTexas factory in the spring of 2009.
On top of the adjustments in its production plan, Toyota said, it will suspend Tundra and Sequoia sport utility vehicle production line operations at the Indiana plant, the Tundra production line at the Texas plant as well as Tundra and Sequoia engine production at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama Inc. forthree months from early August.
==Kyodo
Toyota will allocate production of the Prius to a factory currently under construction in the state of Mississippi, dropping initial plans to use the factory to make the Highlander sport utility vehicle, the automakersaid.
Toyota will manufacture the Prius ultra fuel-efficient car on U.S. soil for the first time -- its second hybrid model to be produced at a U.S. location after the Camry Hybrid car. The Camry Hybrid is being produced at Toyota MotorManufacturing, Kentucky, Inc.
As for the Highlander, Toyota will begin production in the fall of 2009 atToyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc., the automaker said.
The changes in Toyota's production plans are designed to ''enhance its ability to flexibly respond to rapid fluctuations in North American market demand,'' while ''facilitating a stable supply of North American-made vehicles,'' it saidin a statement.
The increase in gasoline prices has been crimping demand for larger automobilesthat consume more fuel.
U.S. sales of Toyota vehicles dived 21.4 percent in June from the previous year as surging gas prices curtailed sales of larger gas-guzzling models and a spike in demand for fuel-efficient models including hybrids outstripped highfuel-economy models in stock.
Sales of Toyota's Prius and other hybrid models surged 45 percent in all of 2007 to 278,000 units. Sales of the Hybrid in the January-May period topped thecorresponding number a year earlier.
Toyota said production of the Tundra truck, currently built at the Indiana plant and Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc., will be consolidated at theTexas factory in the spring of 2009.
On top of the adjustments in its production plan, Toyota said, it will suspend Tundra and Sequoia sport utility vehicle production line operations at the Indiana plant, the Tundra production line at the Texas plant as well as Tundra and Sequoia engine production at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama Inc. forthree months from early August.
==Kyodo
