Toyota’s fourteenth North American plant somewhat insulates Toyota from the ongoing profit sapping effects of a strong Japanese Yen. The plant is an $800 million investment and has the annual capacity to produce 150,000 Corollas.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Mississippi today added today a second shift for production of the Corolla, currently the title holder as the world’s best-selling car in history. Almost 2,000 people are employed at the non-union plant site. In January, the revised 2012 model Corolla sold 18,000 units, which placed it as the seventh best selling car in the U.S.
However, the new Honda Civic outsold Corolla by a couple of thousand units. Both were the only compact car models in the Top Ten list; and Toyota spent the month largely promoting the new Camry and Camry hybrid – the best selling car in the U.S. (See Toyota, Honda, and Nissan Post Strong January Auto Sales)
TMMMS is Toyota’s fourteenth North American plant, insulating Toyota somewhat from the ongoing negative, profit sapping effects of a strong Japanese Yen. The plant is an $800 million investment and has the annual capacity to produce 150,000 Corollas. (See Toyota Cuts 2012 Forecast as Yen and Thailand Floods Hurt)
“Adding a second shift is a significant milestone for us,” said David Copenhaver, vice president of administration at TMMMS.
Toyota’s direct total employment in the U.S. is now nearly 31,000. And according to a Center for Automotive Research study, Toyota’s direct employment, plus its dealership network in the U.S., contributes to the support of more than 365,000 jobs nationally with compensation of more than $20 billion.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
