Toyota unit to keep FY10 production flat

Toyota Motor Kyushu Inc. said that it plans to churn out some 300,000 vehicles in Fiscal 2010, on par with this Fiscal Year. The Toyota Motor Corp. subsidiary, which mostly makes luxury and large vehicles, appears convinced that it will be some time before North America, Europe and other key markets make a full-scale recovery. This comes despite the growing demand for hybrid cars, thanks in part to the tax breaks on environmentally friendly vehicles. Hybrids, including the Lexus HS 250h, will account for around 100,000 units. But production of hybrids will be pushed up to roughly 150,000 units in 2010, while output of gasoline-fueled cars will be reduced. (August 25, 2009)