It looks like Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky plant can't keep up with the demand for Camrys. I guess that's why we've been seeing some Camrys in the U.S. coming from Toyota's Tahara and Tsutsumi plants in Japan.
But it looks like the Tsutumi Camrys will be history soon.
In a partnership "with Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subaru cars," Toyota said today "it plans to build up to 100,000 Camrys a year at a Subaru plant in" Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Toyota "plans to invest $230 million in the Subaru plant" and ad about 1,000 new workers to the plant's current 2,300 employee total.
Can the governor of Indiana be more effusive?
"All of Indiana celebrates this day," said Gov. Mitch Daniels. "We recognize that we live and operate now in an economy that's truly global."
Production "will begin with 30,000 to 40,000 Camrys in the line's first year, and capacity will grow to 100,000 vehicles after three years."
In October, "U.S. automaker General Motors said it was ending its alliance with Fuji and selling its entire 20 percent stake in the company. At that time, Toyota bought an 8.7 percent stake in Fuji for $315 million and became the top shareholder in Fuji."
GM lets go of Fuji/Subaru but Toyota grabs on.
I gotta wonder which company made the better management decision - LOL.