Toyota has said no decision has yet been reached on using its California joint venture plant with General Motors to produce the Prius hybrid – a move that would mark the first North American plant for the car so far built only in Japan and China.
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According to the Associated Press (AP), the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper reported today (30 May) that Toyota was talking with GM about producing the Prius at its joint venture plant in Fremont, California.
New United Motor Manufacturing (NUMMI) was established in 1984 and has since built Toyota’s Corolla, and a number of derivatives for GM brands, such as Geo and Pontiac. It more recently added Toyota’s Tacoma truck line.
The newspaper, without citing sources, said that adding another production plant would help boost Toyota hybrid sales – the automaker has targeted 1m a year sometime after 2010.
“We are always considering the best places for production, but nothing has been decided about producing the Prius at NUMMI,” Toyota said in a statement cited by the news agency.
AP said the majority of global Prius sales are in the US, where demand for small cars are surging. California has among the toughest emissions regulations in the world, helping making the Prius popular there.
The Tokyo Shimbun reportedly said the major components of the Prius would be shipped for assembly at NUMMI.
A similar arrangement is used for local assembly in China.
