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.
