Prius to be built in Missip. by 2010

[toyotafanfan]

PRESS RELEASE: Toyota to Build Prius in U.S.
Highlander to Indiana; all Tundra to Texas
ERLANGER, Ky., July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Toyota is responding to changes in consumer demand and improving the production efficiency and stability of its North American operations by adjusting production mix at three plants. The changes include the addition of the Prius hybrid sedan to its North American lineup.
The changes are as follows:
-- Prius will be built at a plant under construction in Blue Springs, Miss. Production is scheduled to begin in late 2010. Prius, which will join the Kentucky-built Camry Hybrid as the second Toyota hybrid built in North America, enables Toyota to better respond to increased consumer demand for hybrid vehicles.
-- The Highlander mid-size SUV, originally scheduled to be built in Mississippi, will now be manufactured in Princeton, Ind., beginning in Fall 2009.
-- Production of the Tundra full-size pick-up truck, currently built in Indiana and Texas, will be consolidated at the San Antonio plant in Spring 2009.
In addition, Toyota will temporarily suspend Tundra and Sequoia production beginning August 8 due to the declining overall market for full size trucks and SUVs. Production is scheduled to resume in early November. Team members at both facilities, as well as the Huntsville, Ala. plant that builds Tundra and Sequoia engines, will continue to be provided work.
"The truck market continues to worsen, so unfortunately we must temporarily suspend production. But this good news about production mix demonstrates our long-term commitment to our North American operations and to our team members, supplier partners, and communities where our plants are located," said Jim Wiseman, vice president/external affairs for Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (TEMA). "By using this downturn as an opportunity to develop team members and improve our operations, we hope to emerge even stronger."

[blacken]

oh ohh
better get your Japanese made priuses before their quality goes down the crapper @_@

[toyotafanfan]

Originally Posted by blacken

oh ohh
better get your Japanese made priuses before their quality goes down the crapper @_@

Why do you hate America?

But i have to agree, many consumers will ask for a Prius built in Japan.

Fan

[Sulu]

Originally Posted by blacken

oh ohh
better get your Japanese made priuses before their quality goes down the crapper @_@

Originally Posted by toyotafanfan

Why do you hate America?

But i have to agree, many consumers will ask for a Prius built in Japan.

Fan

I don't think that it is a hatred for America, I think that it is more of a realization -- or at least a perception -- that American-assembled Toyotas have lower quality than Japanese-assembled Toyotas.

I would personally prefer a Japanese-assembled Toyota. Of the 4 Camrys I have leased, the 1st and 3rd were assembled in Japan, and the 2nd and the 4th were assembled in America. The Japanese-assembled Camrys had much better assembly quality (less squeaks and rattles and better trim-matching inside the car).

[toyotafanfan]

Originally Posted by Sulu

I don't think that it is a hatred for America, I think that it is more of a realization -- or at least a perception -- that American-assembled Toyotas have lower quality than Japanese-assembled Toyotas.

Oh i agree, just filling in for the resident GM fans who feel anything positive about Japan means you hate America.

Fan

[MNR]

This is great news !
With ford announcing that they are going to build their festiva and hybrid fusion in Mexico and GM announcing they are going to import more Korean built cars to the USA :ahhhh:. But Toyota chooses to invest in America and the American worker by building the prius here.................maybe the new saying should be ......Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and TOYOTA !!

[blacken]

Originally Posted by toyotafanfan

Why do you hate America?
But i have to agree, many consumers will ask for a Prius built in Japan.
Fan

Originally Posted by toyotafanfan

Oh i agree, just filling in for the resident GM fans who feel anything positive about Japan means you hate America.
Fan

Heh heh I know I got it

And its pretty much true.
I don't know why but the American made Toyotas are lacking sometimes

But still great cars since they carry great foundations.

With most dealers here in houston having a 3month waiting list for priuses
building the prius in USA will surely make them slightly cheaper and more available. All good in the big picture. Im sure the prius plants will have more Quality checking since it will be building the flaship green car. Cant skimp on the quality of such a big icon.