California “Strong Candidate for Next Toyota Hybrid Production Site

Washington DC August 15, 2005; The AIADA newsletter reported that Toyota’s Senior Managing Director and head of American sales Yuki Funo said Friday that California is among the strongest candidates in line for added hybrid production.

According to The Wall Street Journal, other Toyota executives have indicated the company’s assembly plant in Fremont, Calif., New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI), is the most likely place for hybrid production. “California is the best choice because of the opinion-leading position of the state in terms of the environment,” Funo said. He did not say which additional hybrid Toyota has planned to produce, but there is speculation that it will be either the Prius or a hybrid version of the Corolla.