News
Toyota Set To Increase Prius Production by 70 Percent
TOKYO, Japan — In one of the more encouraging bits of news this week for consumers weary of high fuel prices, the Nikkan Kogyo industry daily said on Friday that Toyota will produce 70 percent more Prius hybrids next year. That would hike annual output to about 480,000, making the Prius more widely available to the Japanese automaker's global customers.
"I can't confirm or deny [the report]," Curt McAllister, Toyota's Detroit spokesman told Inside Line on Friday.
The newspaper reported that Toyota would shift production of the Wish minivan, which is built alongside the Prius at its Tsutsumi factory, to an unnamed factory in the spring. The move would free up production for more Prius hybrids.
Toyota sold 281,300 Prius vehicles worldwide in 2007 and has been battling a battery shortage. The Japanese automaker recently said it will start building the Prius at its new Mississippi plant from 2010.
What this means to you: The long wait for a Prius may be eased next year if rumors are true of the production shift in Japan. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
"I can't confirm or deny [the report]," Curt McAllister, Toyota's Detroit spokesman told Inside Line on Friday.
The newspaper reported that Toyota would shift production of the Wish minivan, which is built alongside the Prius at its Tsutsumi factory, to an unnamed factory in the spring. The move would free up production for more Prius hybrids.
Toyota sold 281,300 Prius vehicles worldwide in 2007 and has been battling a battery shortage. The Japanese automaker recently said it will start building the Prius at its new Mississippi plant from 2010.
What this means to you: The long wait for a Prius may be eased next year if rumors are true of the production shift in Japan. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »