US - The OEM is spending US$170m to ready its Blue Springs plant in Mississippi for the introduction of the 12th generation Corolla. The model is based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), and will require a "complete replacement of current production lines" at the plant.
"We will be able to respond quicker and be more flexible in order to meet market demands down the road," commented Toyota Mississippi president Sean Suggs. "I'm very proud of our team members and the partnerships we have developed across the state."
Toyota expects that the introduction of models using TNGA will create around 400 new jobs at the Blue Springs plant over the next 12 months. The company has also started building a new visitor and training centre at the facility, in which it will provide "enhanced workforce development training".
In January 2017, Toyota Motor North America CEO Jim Lentz said it would invest $10 billion in the US over the coming five years. Shortly after, the OEM opened its new North American headquarters in Plano, Texas.
