Toyota will start building – from assembly kits, as at present – the third generation Prius hybrid in China early in 2010 but no date has been set for postponed US production to start, officials told just-auto on Thursday.
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TMC said last July that Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, (TMMMS), then under construction and originally scheduled to produce the Highlander SUV [called Kluger elsewhere], would instead build the Prius hybrid from the second half of 2010.
Last December came a change of plan. Prius output in the US would be suspended indefinitely and the 90% finished Mississippi plant completed but not fitted out.
“[The current] Prius isn’t selling that well in the US,” an official said on the sidelines of a hybrid technology media presentation for European journalists. Sales had soared last year when gas prices peaked (enabling dealers to charge premiums) but had fallen off again as fuel prices eased.
Prius chief engineer Akihiko Otsuka has been quoted as saying US build would not commence until the fourth generation car arrives (likely in four to six years’ time) but just-auto’s source said: “That’s just his opinion. Nothing has been decided yet.”
Graeme Roberts
