Toyota to build Prius in U.S.Highlander to Indiana; all Tundra to Texas

07/10/2008

July 10, 2008 – Erlanger, KY - Toyota is responding to changes in consumer demand
and improving the production efficiency and stability of its North American operations
by adjusting production mix at three plants. The changes include the addition
of the Prius hybrid sedan to its North American lineup. The changes are
as follows:- Prius will be built at a plant under construction in Blue Springs,
Miss. Production is scheduled to begin in late 2010. Prius, which will join the
Kentucky-built Camry Hybrid as the second Toyota hybrid built in North America,
enables Toyota to better respond to increased consumer demand for hybrid vehicles.
- The Highlander mid-size SUV, originally scheduled to be built in Mississippi,
will now be manufactured in Princeton, Ind., beginning in Fall 2009. -
Production of the Tundra full-size pick-up truck, currently built in Indiana and
Texas, will be consolidated at the San Antonio plant in Spring 2009. In addition,
Toyota will temporarily suspend Tundra and Sequoia production beginning August
8 due to the declining overall market for full size trucks and SUVs. Production
is scheduled to resume in early November. Team members at both facilities, as
well as the Huntsville, Ala. plant that builds Tundra and Sequoia engines, will
continue to be provided work. “The truck market continues to worsen,
so unfortunately we must temporarily suspend production. But this good news about
production mix demonstrates our long-term commitment to our North American operations
and to our team members, supplier partners, and communities where our plants are
located,” said Jim Wiseman, vice president/external affairs for Toyota Motor
Engineering & Manufacturing North America (TEMA). “By using this downturn
as an opportunity to develop team members and improve our operations, we hope
to emerge even stronger.”Toyota (NYSE:TM) established operations in
North America in 1957 and currently operates 13 manufacturing plants. In addition,
new plants are under construction in Ontario and Mississippi. Toyota directly
employs over 43,000 in North America and its investment here is currently valued
at more than $21 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research
and development, financial services and design. Toyota’s annual purchasing
of parts, materials, goods and services from North American suppliers totals more
than $30 billion per year. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com.