Toyota Mississippi Plant to Begin Production in Fall 2011

Blue Springs, United States―Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces that Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc. (TMMMS), TMC's vehicle manufacturing plant in Mississippi, United States, is to begin production in the fall of 2011. Although plans for the plant announced in February 2007 foresaw production beginning some time in 2010, the start of production was postponed in December 2008. Today's announcement marks the resumption of work on the plant.

TMMMS, representing approximately 2,000 new jobs, is planned to produce 150,000 units of the "Corolla" annually. The decision to start production at TMMMS with the Corolla is aimed at both promptly returning to the United States part of North-America-market-allocated Corolla production carried out in Japan since April this year and making TMMMS operational within the shortest timeframe possible.

To mark the announcement, today TMC President Akio Toyoda said: "It is a great pleasure to announce that TMMMS is to begin production. We at Toyota are very appreciative of the generous understanding and support we have received from Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and countless others from the State. We aim to give our full effort to manufacturing vehicles that can bring joy and to contribute to the region's economy and society."

TMMMS is continuing its preparations to begin production, such as recruiting workers and setting up facilities and equipment.

In the important market that is North America, Toyota is continuing to promote still greater localization and autonomy of its operations, which range from development and production to sales and service.