Toyota said to plan U.S. production cut Report: Higher fuel prices, economic concerns to reduce pickup output at Texas plant; lower sales growth seen in '07.
HONG KONG (Dow Jones) -- Toyota Motor Corp., Japan' s leading automaker, is set to lower its U.S. production target for some vehicle models because of higher fuel prices and concerns the economy could slow, according to a media report Wednesday. Toyota (TM) is considering trimming production at its new pickup truck assembly plant in Texas, the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported. The plant, scheduled to open in November, has an annual capacity of 200,000 units, but Toyota is targeting to make 150,000 pickups in 2007, the report said. Toyota will double its orders for passenger cars to 200,000 from Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., the U.S. production subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Co., from October 2007, the report added. Separately, a Toyota spokesman said the U.S. division did not expect 10% to 12% sales growth in 2007, a level consistent with growth rates in recent years, according to reports. Although not formal target was given the spokesman said the automaker was expecting U.S. sales growth more along the lines of 3% to 5%, according to a Reuters report. Toyota' s U.S. sales are reported to have risen 11% this year. Toyota is on track to surpass General Motors (GM) as the world' s largest automaker by volume next year. (END) Dow Jones Newswires 09-13-06 0032ET Copyright (c) 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. |
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