Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Production of Toyota Corolla transferring from NUMMI to Ontario]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/29/report-production-of-toyota-corolla-transferring-from-nummi-to/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/29/report-production-of-toyota-corolla-transferring-from-nummi-to/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/29/report-production-of-toyota-corolla-transferring-from-nummi-to/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2009 Toyota Corolla - Click above for high-res image gallery

As even mighty Toyota finds itself with excess production capacity in North America and elsewhere, the Japanese automaker has finally made the decision to shutter an assembly plant. The loss of the Pontiac Vibe means that it wasn't viable to keep the NUMMI factory in Fremont, CA operating on its own, but the rest of the products it builds are still in demand to varying degrees.

We've already heard that production of the mid-size Tacoma pickup truck would be consolidated with its big brother the Tundra in San Antonio TX. The other remaining product from NUMMI was the Corolla sedan. The volume that had been produced in California will reportedly now come out Toyota's Cambridge, Ontario factory where the compact car is already built. It's not known at this time if the move will result in any additional jobs at the Cambridge plant. Thanks for the tip, Dave!


Gallery: 2009 Toyota Corolla


[Source: Montreal Gazette]

REPORT: Production of Toyota Corolla transferring from NUMMI to Ontario originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota has never closed a U.S. assembly plant, but the suddenly struggling Japanese automaker has said that it would shudder the NUMMI factory in California, the only auto plant in the state, by next March. The upcoming closure isn't a big surprise since General Motors was allowed to bow out of its half of the joint venture project with Toyota during bankruptcy, giving Toyota full responsibility for the California plant. And since the Pontiac Vibe is no longer being made at the facility, capacity has dropped to a reported 60%, making the facility unprofitable at a time when Toyota is losing money.

The closure of the plant means, of course, that its 5,300 employees will soon be without a job. To protest the closure of NUMMI, an estimated 1,000 workers turned out to demonstrate in front of the facility last week. The union-organized workers are in a tough position, too, since their UAW contract expired last week. The contract was indefinitely extended, but either party can cancel it with five days notice. And with unemployment at 11% in California, finding a new job will be no easy task.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

REPORT: NUMMI workers demonstrate over plant's potential closing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gmnummi plantNummiPlantprotesttoyotauawunionunited auto workersUnitedAutoWorkersMon, 24 Aug 2009 10:31:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Toyota to end production at NUMMI in March]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/17/report-toyota-to-end-production-at-nummi-in-march/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/17/report-toyota-to-end-production-at-nummi-in-march/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/17/report-toyota-to-end-production-at-nummi-in-march/#commentsFiled under: ,

2009 Toyota Matrix - Click above for high-res image gallery

Word 'round the campfire (okay, by way of the Asahi Shimbun newspaper in Japan and via Reuters) is that Toyota will end production at its NUMMI plant in California in March of next year. Though a spokesperson for the automaker claims no final decision has been made about an official closing of the plant, reports indicate that suppliers have already been notified about plans to shutter the assembly lines early next year after more than a quarter century in operation.

General Motors' only current contribution to the plant in California is the Pontiac Vibe, which officially ends production this month. Toyota is said to be moving production of the Tacoma pickup to its plant in San Antonio, Texas, and final assembly of the Corolla will reportedly join the Matrix, its hatchback sibling, in Ontario, Canada and a factory in Japan.


Gallery: 2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix


[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: Toyota to end production at NUMMI in March originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It was originally thought that the Vibe would be the terminal Pontiac, but now that we've learned that the Excitement runs out of the NUMMI plant by the end of August we're not so sure. While the curtain will drop on the Vibe, General Motors hasn't totally ruled out future co-production with Toyota at its joint venture in Fremont, CA.

The Vibe is the twin of Toyota's Matrix, and tended to earn Pontiac a lot of "it's a good GM car, because it's actually a Toyota" commentary, frustrating to no end in the halls of the RenCen, we're sure. Check out the full press release after the jump.

Continue reading Dampened: Pontiac Vibe production ends this August

Dampened: Pontiac Vibe production ends this August originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumors of a meeting between GM CEO Rick Wagoner and top officials from Toyota in Japan has been denied. This shouldn't come as much of a surprise, considering that it's GM's policy not to comment on such matters, but Toyota has no such policy and has also denied that such discussions have or will take place. The Japanese Kyodo News had started the rumors, which specifically suggested that Toyota could offer GM hybrid technology and assistance in the assembly of small cars. That seemed rather odd, especially since GM has its own sophisticated Two-Mode hybrid system that was developed along with Chrysler and BMW. Toyota and GM also already share a factory in California that builds relatively fuel efficient compact cars, so any deal between the two automakers would just be an extension of their current agreements. What's more, General Motors is also in talks with Cerberus to make a major play on Chrysler's automotive operations, so it would seem to be an inopportune time to discuss major deals with other automakers as well.

[Source: Reuters]

Toyota denies rumors of giving aid to GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The evidence: rumor had it at the LA Auto Show that customers would soon have the option of buying a hybrid Toyota Matrix and a hybrid Pontiac Vibe; the 2009 Pontiac Vibe is made at NUMMI, a GM-Toyota joint venture manufacturing plant where the Matrix is also made; Toyota's already got its hybrid synergy drive -- so is GM working on a hybrid with Toyota, or will they use Toyota's hybrid tech to work in the Vibe?

The evidence is circumstantial, certainly. But it's possible. Lutz said at the recent Reuters Auto Summit that, no matter what GM thinks of hybrids, the company made a mistake letting Toyota get so far ahead with hybrids such that now the Japanese brand has become practically synonymous with hybrids and is perceived to be atop a green moral high ground. True, there's the Volt, and GM might not be doing anything with Toyota at all and it could just be a rumor. Or GM could surprise us with something completely new -- it wouldn't be the first time.

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

Are GM and Toyota working on a hybrid together? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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