The two companies already use the New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) factory in California to produce the Toyota Tacoma and Corolla and the Pontiac Vibe. Adding Prius production to the plant would require shipping the parts it can't source in the U.S. - like battery assemblies from its Japanese plants - and assembling them stateside, reports the AFP.
As is its usual policy for major corporate decisions still being negotiated, Toyota has refused to comment on whether it is bringing Prius production to America, but the company did confirm the NUMMI factory was being considered for the project.
Like the company's recent announcement of two new hybrid battery plants in Japan, the addition of more Prius production capacity is aimed at helping the company reach its goal of selling over a million hybrids a year post-2010.
Reader Comments
Fri May 30 2008 10:23 AM
chris says
maybe this third battery plant is coming to nature loving california? we'll see how many of those people yell "NIMBY".
...makes me wonder if toyota will try to sell the platform to GM... considering.
Fri May 30 2008 11:23 AM
burke says
I'm already thinking how I'm going to customize mine...
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