July 26, 2007 -- Toyota Auto Body Co. plans to spend several billion yen to construct a plant in the U.S. state of Mississippi to produce pressed car parts for the assembly facility that parent Toyota Motor Corp. is building there. The Toyota group firm will supply parts for the Highlander sport utility vehicle, known in Japan as the Kluger, which Toyota will produce at its new factory.
Toyota's eighth finished-vehicle assembly plant in North America is being constructed in Blue Springs, located in northeastern Mississippi. With the facility slated to begin operating as early as 2010, Toyota Auto Body aims to build its factory nearby and start production by then. In opening the new plant, Toyota is giving preference to parts procurement from local manufacturers, but for some parts, it has urged affiliated firms to set up shop close by.
In Japan, Toyota Auto Body makes parts for such Toyota models as the Prius hybrid, in addition to parts using large presses. Toyota Auto Body has been establishing facilities abroad in line with its parent's increased overseas production, and the new U.S. plant will be its first outside Asia.
Source: Asia Pulse
Source: Factiva
