Chinese vehicle manufacturing joint venture Sichuan FAW Toyota Motor (SFTM) has held a line-off ceremony to mark the start of Corolla sedan production at its new ‘West Plant’ in Changchun.
SFTM is owned 50-50 by Toyota Motor and First Automobile Works Group.
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Initial output at the new factory will be about 100,000 units a year from next autumn. The plant cost CMY3.8bn and created 2,000 new jobs.
“Toyota will continue its efforts to manufacture cars that provide joy and exceed Chinese consumer expectations,” the automaker said in a statement.
The older SFTM east plant, opened in 2003, employs 500 making 10,000 Land Cruiser and Prius a year. A separate plant in Chengdu, opened in 2000, makes the Coaster (small bus), and Land Cruiser. Its 2,000 workers turn out 40,000 units each year.
A separate Japan-China JV, Changchun Faway Toyota Boshoku Auto Parts, supplies seats and interior trim to the Changchun plants.
