Toyota has announced that the Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi Inc., which is currently under construction, is to begin production of the Prius hybrid. This fits in with Toyota's long-term aim of enhancing its ability to flexibly respond to rapid fluctuations in North American demand and facilitating a stable supply of North America-made vehicles.

It was originally scheduled to produce the Highlander SUV.

The production of the Prius at the Mississippi factory is to represent the second Toyota hybrid vehicle produced in North America, where Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. already produces the Camry hybrid. In North America, strong demand for hybrid vehicles is expected to continue.

Toyota intends to respond to customer needs by localising hybrid vehicle production.

The introduction of the Highlander at the plant is intended to increase efficiencies at both plants and to achieve steady plant-utilisation rates.

And as a response to a rapid fluctuation in truck-market demand, Toyota has announced that operation of the Tundra and Sequoia production lines will start off at the Texas plant and the Tundra and Sequoia engine production lines at the Alabama plant will be suspended for three months from August to November.

During this non-production period, employees are to mainly be assigned to participate in 'continuous improvement' activities and training. Toyota intends to use this period to cultivate its employees, with a long-term aim to further increase the productivity of its vehicle production plants in North America.

Toyota, based on its philosophy of 'making where sold', and from a long-term perspective, intends to - by solidifying its research and development, procurement, production and sales functions - further strengthen the ability of its production structures to flexibly respond to fluctuations in market demand and achieve a stable supply structure on a global scale.