Toyota Switches Mississippi Plant from SUVs to Next Generation Prius

Next Generation Prius to be Made in USA
Toyota has just announced on its blog that the next generation Prius hybrid (certain models of which might have solar panels) will be made in the US, becoming the second Toyota hybrid car made in the country after the Camry hybrid, which is made in Kentucky.

Blue Springs, Mississippi
"As part of a sweeping set of changes that reflect the state of the automobile business in the United States, Prius production will begin here in late 2010 at a brand-new plant currently under construction in Blue Springs, Mississippi." This should reduce the total life-cycle environmental footprint of US Toyota Prius drivers.

Toyota Tundra Truck photo

Production of Big Trucks, V8 Engines, and SUVs Going Down
Originally, that Blue Springs plant was supposed to make Highlander SUVs, but because of declining sales and high oil prices, Toyota is moving those to its Princeton, Indiana plant. That means bumping the production of the huge Tundra truck to the San Antonio, Texas plant, but they're not just shuffling things around. Big cuts will be made:

"Toyota is temporarily suspending Tundra and Sequoia production beginning August 8th. Production is scheduled to resume in November. Production of V8 engines at our Huntsville, Alabama plant also will be suspended."

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Toyota Prius vs Jeep Patriot Comparison is Deeply Flawed
Weird Unofficial Toyota Ads: "Well, at least he drives a Prius"

More on Toyota Making the Next Gen Prius in the USA
Prius Production to Mississippi, All Tundra to Texas
Toyota to Build Prius in US, Temporarily Suspends Tundra and Sequoia Production
BREAKING: Toyota to build new Prius in Mississippi in 2010, trucks to stop for 3 months