Toyota’s Tupelo, Mississippi plant is currently earmarked for Prius production, but that decision could change as the Japanese automaker reevaluates its U.S. production plans. Toyota completed the $1.3 billion Tupelo plant last year, but has yet to produce a vehicle there.
Toyota reaffirmed its commitment to the Tupelo plant earlier this week, but says the decision on what vehicle to produce at the plant has yet to be made. “We’re very committed to that plant,” Steve St. Angelo, senior vice president of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc., told Automotive News. “But we’re looking at our whole portfolio and asking which products it makes sense to build or not build in North America.”
The Mississippi plant – which began construction in 2006 — was originally designed to produce the Highlander SUV but Toyota abandoned that plan in the summer of 2008 when gas prices topped $4 a gallon. In December Toyota announced the plant would produce the Prius hybrid, but has since cooled on that idea.
The plant’s construction was completed last year but no equipment was even installed. Toyota hasn’t given a timeframe of when the plant will be operational.
06/10, 7:40 PM
posted by:
A4
Grab the blueprints for the old Supra and restart production of that. Then there will be a Toyota I actually give a sh!t about.
06/10, 8:15 PM
posted by:
DrFill
A4
Your posts are coming along nicely
DrFill
06/10, 8:17 PM
posted by:
boogeyman0906
with gas prices going up north again, it would be wise to stick to their orignial plans. excuse me, second plan which was to build the prius.
06/10, 10:16 PM
posted by:
swamprat
A4 – absolutely.
Or… build the rear wheel drive KP61 Toyota Starlet with the modern engine and a 6 speed transmission.
06/11, 3:29 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
I’m with A4 on this one…..
06/12, 8:57 AM
posted by:
inspire
They build the Camry in Kentucky, the Corolla in Canada and the Vibe in Cali / Canada. What else does Toyota sell in any numbers in North America?
The Prius will probably be made in Japan only for now since the hybrid hype is just that — hype. Until one major car manufacturer can figure out the electric car (or develop a Mr Fusion technology as in the Back to the Future movies) … hybrids are just a stopgap until the ‘real’ revolution in engine technology takes hold.