Toyota May Export Corolla Parts To US From Brazil Plant

TOKYO November 17, 2003; Yoshio Takahashi writing for Dow Jones reported that Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday it is considering exporting auto parts from its plant in Brazil to the U.S. on the expectation of further sales growth in the world's biggest auto market.

Japan's largest automaker may supply parts for the "Corolla" model in the U.S. from its Indaiatuba plant in Sao Paulo in addition to the parts supplied from its local U.S. plants.

The company aims to optimize its global production operations and raise plant operating efficiency as well as limit costs amid continuing robust sales in the U.S.

U.S. sales of the Corolla jumped 34.3% on year in the January-October period to 285,000 vehicles, with its overall sales there for the 10 months up 5.9% to 1.57 million units.

Its Brazilian unit, Toyota de Brasil Ltda, began manufacturing the Corolla at the Indaiatuba plant in 1998 and more than tripled output capacity at the plant to 57,000 vehicles last year.