Wild Ass Rumor of the Day: NUMMI Production to Tupelo?
Published: August 27th, 2009
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A tipster writes:
Long-time reader here. I’m sure you hate anonymous tips as much as the next internet pontificator, but I’m gonna throw one your way anyway. You noted a few days ago that some NUMMI capacity could potentially move to the Blue Springs, MS, plant. The word here in Tupelo is that equipment has been quietly moving into the facility at night for the last few days. Supposedly, they’re trying it out to see if they can make use of the place. NUMMI would make a logical source of that equipment if the rumor is true. I’m not much of a 2am spy run type of guy, so I’m afraid rumor is all I have to go on.
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As Quentin pointed out, there is no Matrix line. And it's incorrect to say Corolla's coming to Cambridge. Corolla IS in Cambridge since 1988. Yes, Cambridge will have to pick-up some of the Corolla volume lost by NUMMI's demise. Cambridge is already running overtime as a result of c4c. They will further increase production by decreasing the takt time in October(they've increased takt time about 1 year ago because of the slump in sales). That ain't gonna be much of a volume increase though...maybe 10% or so. And Toyota had always imported some Corolla's from Japan. About 10% of Corollas sold in US last month were imported from Takaoka. That portion will simply go up to 40-50%. The huge Takaoka plant, currently only running at 60%, would be more then happy to provide them.
Tacoma to San Antonio--done deal
Omoikane: "And Toyota had always imported some Corolla’s from Japan. About 10% of Corollas sold in US last month were imported from Takaoka. That portion will simply go up to 40-50%." That's a dirty little secret. Toyota likes to wrap themselves in the flag and talk about how they make cars here, but they still import a significant number from Japan, as does Honda and Nissan. I don't think Toyota will keep plants in the US and Canada open and close plants in Japan if the auto biz gets even worse than it is now.
windswords, that's no secret- it's out there in the press releases. It's only seen as a "secret" by populist morons and UAW demagogues. And 10% it is not a significant number. It has always been there in good and bad times. When Cambridge and NUMMI were running full speed and people there were whining for having to work "excessive" overtime, Takaoka was helping filling out the dealer orders, the Japanese working their butts off without complaining. In bad times, it won't be right to run NUMMI and Cambridge at 100% and Takaoka at 40%. As for plants closing, Toyota already announced shutting down one of the two lines in Takaoka. Please note it is not Toyota who closed the NUMMI plant. GM decided to withdraw as a NUMMI shareholder. Witnessing the OPEL circus, I could only imagine how the negotiations with the GM clowns would have been in case Toyota wanted to buy them out…