The carmaker says the fist models to roll out the new assembly lines will be Corollas, as its production will allow the plant to open sooner. This will mean that most of the Corolla models sold in the States will be built locally.
“Toyota appreciates the patience of Gov. Barbour and all Mississippians, but we first needed to fully utilize our existing facilities as the economy slowed. Now it’s time to fulfill Toyota’s promise in Mississippi,” said Yoshimi Inaba, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor North America.
“Toyota remains committed to making vehicles where we sell them and to maintaining a substantial manufacturing presence in North America.”
In January this year, Toyota announced it will build the hybrid Prius in Blue Springs, giving no production start date. It's unclear how yesterday's announcement affects the Prius plans in the US.
Toyota's facility in Blue Springs, Mississippi, is currently producing nothing, as work on the facility, nearly finalized, was idled in late 2008 due to the dropping demand in the automotive industry.
The new Toyota plant has already managed to attract several businesses, mostly automotive suppliers who hope to snatch a contract with Toyota. Furthermore, the Japanese carmaker is likely to hire some 2,000 people for the new plant in the months to come.
Not all are pleased however with this move. The UAW accuses Toyota of abandoning an unionized plant, the New United Motor Manufacturing (NUMMI) and goes for a non-unionized one.
In response to Toyota's announcement, UAW's new president, Bob King, who in between 2002 and 2006 was in charge of UAW's National Organizing Department, says the union will step up efforts to organize non-union workers at Toyota factories.
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