While Toyota sales have dipped a bit, along with the sales of other automakers, the Toyota Prius has remained a popular model. As a result, Toyota recently decided to idle the company’s plan in Princeton Indiana, which produces the Toyota Highlander, which would free up room to produce additional Prius models. However, the economic environment may be stalling those plans as well as production plans for the Highlander.
The latest news from Japan suggests that Toyota has put Prius production in the US on hold. While the new Prius was supposed to see production begin in Mississippi in 2010, Toyota is now signaling that production may not begin until 2011.
News apparently originated from a special task force formed by Toyota executives. This task force has the single objective of ensuring the company’s finances are in order, and moving up production or expanding production of the hottest hybrid in the world evidently was seen as a poor investment, to the disappointment of Toyota dealers Olympia and other Toyota dealers.
Holding off production is not something new in this economic environment. However, this development shows just how bad the global economy is, as the Prius is one of Toyota’s strongest selling models.
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For updates on the all-new 2010 Toyota Prius, check back here.
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