Toyota, Mazda to open plant in Alabama www.nhk.or.jp
Japanese automakers Toyota and Mazda have officially announced that they will jointly build an assembly plant in the southern US state of Alabama.
Toyota President Akio Toyoda and Mazda President Masamichi Kogai on Wednesday announced the decision at a ceremony in the state capital of Montgomery. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey also attended.
Toyoda said he is confident that they will create yet another "Built in America" success story.
Kogai said he is glad to be able to contribute to Alabama and the US economy. He also said the two automakers will put their technologies together to supply high-quality vehicles.
The companies will invest about 1.6 billion dollars in the new plant that is planned to start operation in 2021.
Toyota and Mazda formed a tie-up last year, and have looked for a place in the United States to open a new plant.
Alabama is the fifth-largest automobile production base in the US and is home to factories of German maker Mercedes-Benz and Japan's Honda. Toyota already has an engine plant there.
Published Date:2018-01-11