Toyota contemplates delay of Prius production in Mississippi

Posted Fri Nov 14 2008 11:31 AM by James Martinez

Even the Prius isn't immune to Toyota's emergency profit improvement efforts

Just a few months ago Toyota was struggling to keep up with demand for its Prius hybrid in North America due to skyrocketing fuel prices. Waiting lists at some dealerships were stretching as long as eight months. But now Toyota may be rethinking its plan to supply more of the hybrids with U.S. production as overall sales volumes sink.

Flagging demand for Toyota's SUV and pickup models led the company to respond to changes in consumer demand by adjusting the production mix at three of its plants in North America. The Prius hybrid had been planned to be built at a plant in Blue Springs, Mississippi, beginning in late 2010. Now production could be pushed back as far as 2011, reports Automotive News Europe, though the company stresses that nothing has been decided yet, and the 2010 plan still stands for the present.

The Prius is already manufactured in Japan and China but the North American market remains the car’s biggest, with more than 130,000 units sold last year alone. The Highlander mid-size SUV, originally scheduled to be built in Mississippi, will still likely be manufactured in Princeton, Indiana, beginning in the first half of next year.

Production of the Tundra full-size pick-up truck, currently built in Indiana and Texas, will be consolidated at the San Antonio plant in the second half of next year. Toyota already temporarily suspended Tundra and Sequoia production in August due to the declining overall market for full size trucks and SUVs.

Supply of Toyota’s hybrid models have also been delayed recently due to a lack of batteries. The carmaker has confirmed that it will build two additional battery plants in Japan to increase the supply of nickel-metal hydride batteries for its hybrid vehicles.

Reader Comments

Fri Nov 14 2008 1:03 PM
www.mywheelsonwalls.com says

Did I read that correctly? Lets see "The carmaker has confirmed that it will build two additional battery plants in Japan to increase the supply of nickel-metal hydride batteries for its hybrid vehicles." Yes I did!

They build a green vehicle (supposedly) and their going to build more factories to produce it? Does that not increase Toyota's carbon foot print as a manufaturer? How about they use a factory that already exists? Just a guess but GM, Ford, and Chrysler have some to spare. Also the nickel they use is only mined here in the U.S. so why ship the raw material out of the country only to ship it back as a finished product?

I will feel no remorse driving around in my F150 knowing that from cradle to grave its produced in the worlds greenest car plant ever created!!!

As for Prius onwers are you aware that your contributing to the problem as opposed to solving it? In regards to my truck it ultimately is solving the problem. Why? they build less than ever due to the economy, the ones they due make are greener than ever mostly due to the factory (singular by the way) they are produced in, and finally the 2009 version has more power and emits less green house gas!!!
Fri Nov 14 2008 1:29 PM
JSH says

LOL, you're a funny guy!
Sat Nov 15 2008 5:44 PM
www.mywheelsonwalls.com says

Thanks JSH. But do you see my point? The Prius does not use any existing factories or green ones for that matter in its production nor[sic] does it replace an existing model within Toyotas line up.

The F150 however is more efficient than ever and also had its factory completely redesigned with its impact on the environment a central concern. Also the F150 is the only truck from Ford in that class where as at Toyota you can get a Corolla, Scion, Camry or a Prius and all made in different factories, I might add.

The Prius how ever is nothing more than another option as opposed to replacing existing options, i.e. cease production of Corlla's. The Prius is made in a very unvironmentally manner so there for makes no sense to me what so ever.

When they (Toyota) manufacturer a green vehicle in such ways it really brings home what Bob Lutz said "Global waming is a crock of shit". But then again Ford certainly seems to be going about the problem in the right manner, if it really does exist.
Thu Nov 20 2008 6:55 AM
dspur says

Green, schmeen. I bought my Prius for the fuel economy, nothing more. If I could make it belch black smoke like my diesel pickup (without harming the vehicle) I would. Global warming has ALWAYS been a HOAX, now it has been embraced like a religion, just like the
"coming ice age" hoax of the '70's and the "coast of california is going to fall into the ocean" hoax of the late '60's

MotorAuthority