Responding to a Tokyo Shimbun story that said discussions with GM were underway, Toyota says that no decision has been made about potentially building the Prius at New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI), the joint Toyota-GM plant in California. The AP reports that Toyota is stepping back from the rumor that the Prius could be built in North America for the first time. The Prius is currently made in Japan and China. Officially, Toyota's statement said, "We are always considering the best places for production, but nothing has been decided about producing the Prius at NUMMI." We do know that Toyota will build two new hybrid battery plants (and expand a third) in Japan for increased hybrid vehicle production. If the Shimbun story is true, then major components (like those batteries) would be shipped to NUMMI for final assembly. Something tells me we'll hear more about this in the future.

[Source: Automotive News Europe (subs req'd), AP]

There was a rumor at the 2007 LA Auto Show that there will be hybrid version of the 2009 Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix. The Pontiac Vibe is a product of NUMMI, New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc., a joint venture between GM and Toyota. So, if the rumor is true, GM and Toyota are working on a hybrid together right now.

Toyota wants to license their hybrid technology and GM has worked with other companies on their own hybrid system. I am not a big fan of what-ifs but making a hybrid is not something that's lightly considered and it would explain a lot of things like why has GM not come out with a full hybrid passenger car yet. Of course, the hybrid Vibe might also be a mild hybrid without any real exchange or license of technology.

I guess we find out soon enough; the 2009 Vibe and Matrix go on sale the first quarter of 2008.

[Source: New York Times]