Toyota Motor will push back the beginning of operations at its new plant in Mexico, to the first half of 2020 from the initial strategy of 2019, the company stated.
Japan’s leading automaker prepared to begin developing the Corolla sedan at the $1 billion Guanajuato plant however stated recently it would switch production to a new U.S. factory to be developed with Mazda Motor.
Toyota stated the delay was needed to adjust its supply chain in Mexico to produce the truck-based Tacoma pickup model in place of the Corolla compact car. That factory might also construct sport utility vehicles, a Toyota representative in Mexico stated recently.
“With the production model change to the Tacoma pickup, the beginning of production will subsequently be in the first half of 2020,” a Toyota spokesperson stated.
“However, we will make our utmost effort to advance the timing in order to reduce the impact to suppliers and the local community.”
Till the scheduled start of the joint venture plant with Mazda in 2021, Toyota will provide the Corollas that were initially slated to be constructed in Mexico from its factories in Mississippi and Japan, the company stated.
