Toyota to build new engine assembly plant in Tohoku

Toyota Motor Corp. said it will invest approximately US$25 million in a new engine assembly plant in the Tohoku region to produce 4-cylinder car engines. It will have a capacity of 100,000 units per year. It is not known if the new facility is part of a new plant or will be added to an existing plant. In addition, Toyota said it will be producing the new Yaris compact hybrid model at its Tohoku facility in northeast Japan. The new hybrid will be targeted at both the domestic and international market. Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota, said, “Tohoku, as our third manufacturing center in Japan, will be responsible for developing and assembling compact cars. We have also decided to produce a small hybrid vehicle in Tohoku.” (July 20,2011)