Filed under: Hybrid, Manufacturing/Plants, Toyota, Detroit Auto Show, USA
US Prius assembly in Mississippi officially on hold
Click above for a gallery of 2010 Prius images
Rumors of a delayed launch of U.S.-built 2010 Prius hybrids have today been confirmed by the Japanese automaker. Blame for the plant's postponed start date can be placed squarely on the downturn of the global economy and US automobile sales in particular. Fortunately, Toyota had yet to fully staff the plant and has no plans to let any workers go. Unfortunately, workers in Mississippi that were hoping to find employment at the new plant will likely need to wait for a while until Toyota's ready to do any hiring.
The plant, which is located near Tupelo, MS, is already some 90 percent completed and has cost the automaker an estimated $300 million, so it's only a matter of time before Toyota begins producing something there, whether it's a redesigned Prius or not. In the meantime, the 2010 Prius, which will see its first formal debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month, will continue to be built in Japan and imported to the States.
[Source: Reuters]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gorr 4:45PM (12/15/2008)
This prove that all the earth is dead stopped by intellectual problems for every one. Not too long ago it was reported that alternative cars were on their way like the prius and i-think city from norwar and now even the best alternate green car are over produced and nobody wants them, LOL. For me it's because the car producers have marital problems and build them in their car offering. They want to be save by jesus instead of offering good cars to their customers and the consumers have the same problems, they want to buy the same car that jesus will buy...LOL.
Silly religious problem. It resume as who or what is the best energy source for eternity but the problem is they look for metal cars and trucks instead of directly in religious books and churchs. Jesus said to separate money business of religion but he will accept some money because he too have to eat and shelter since 1961.
Reply
NOSNOBPODS 8:29AM (12/16/2008)
This is good news, this electric car crap is just a way to make those who don't belive in this globle warming hipe, to be forced into driving a car that nobody wants, unless you are some left wing nut or a fake do gooder or a movie star. MAN MADE GLOBAL WARMING IS A MYTH.
Reply
PD 9:03AM (12/16/2008)
nosnobpods,
I agree with you about global warming, but we need to get off imported oil for other reasons. I don't like to see my petrodollars going to jihadists and thugs like Hugo Chavez, do you? The Iranians are probably going to get nuclear weapons because everyone is afraid they will shut down the Straits of Hormuz in retaliation for wiping out their program. Further, a large part of our trade deficit is due to oil imports.
Economy cars may not be the most luxurious way to get around, but are patriotic, and not really much of a sacrifice when you think about it.
Reply
Bill 6:49AM (12/17/2008)
There just isn't the traditional demand for 11 million new cars anymore.
Plenty of used cars are available, at much cheaper prices than the $20,000 a Prius or new Insight will cost.
Reply
JohnJahy60 3:04PM (12/23/2008)
This is stunning news. I thought Priuses (what's the plural of Prius, "Prii"?) were in hot demand and supply could not keep up.
So basically we're saying that Toyota can't build a high MPG hybrid in the US, profitably. And at the same time, we're hearing that the solution for GM Ford Chrysler is to build more high MPG cars in the US, profitably. This is bad news for the domestic manufacturers.
Reply