Just 6 months ago news outlets were reporting that the stalled Mississippi plant would no longer build the Prius. What a difference a few months make. Now the Japanese newspaper the Nikkei is reporting that not only will Toyota finish the plant, but that the first American-made Prius should roll off the line by 2011.
The plant in Tupelo, MS was started in 2006 and had intially been slated to produce the Toyota Highlander, but with the success of the Prius and the decline in SUV sales Toyota decided to build the Prius there instead. Economic conditions forced the plant construction to be halted in December of 2008.
Toyota's last official statement to PriusChat regarding the plant was just last week in our live chat, where Kevin Butt said, "We continue to evaluate our capacity in NA, and we don't have any announcements right now. However, when it's completed, it will be the a model sustainable plant."
Via AllCarsElectric
