Toyota is considering building
another new engine factory in the United States due to strong demand for its sports
utility vehicles (SUV), according to the Yomiuri Shimbun.

The newspaper says that Toyota will begin operations at its sixth factory in
Alabama by 2004, with a production capacity of 100,000 to 150,000 engines per
year.

Spokesman Nobuya Eto told the newspaper that Toyota will build a new plant
in the US to assemble engines for SUVs and pick-up trucks currently built in
Japan.

Mr. Eto declined to give a construction date or output target.