TOYOTA TO HIKE GLOBAL COROLLA OUTPUT TO 1.5 MLN UNITS IN 2008

TOKYO, Oct 15, 2007 (Thomson Financial via COMTEX) -- TM | charts | news | PowerRating -- Toyota Motor Corp, Japan's largest automaker, plans to produce 1.5 million units of its mainstay Corolla sedans and wagons worldwide next year, about 200,000 units more than expected this year, the Nikkei reported over the weekend, without citing sources.

In Japan, a plant which now produces the Prius hybrid and other models, will in fiscal 2008 start turning out about 50,000 Corolla sedans a year for shipment to Europe and other markets, the business daily said.

In South Africa, Toyota's annual capacity for Corolla production was increased to 220,000 units from 130,000 in July as it prepares to launch exports of the sedan to Europe at the end of the year, it said.

In China, it will start full operation at a third factory in Tianjin, with annual capacity of 200,000 units, which was opened in May, the Nikkei said.

A new Corolla model will be rolled out early next year in the US, and production will be increased in California and other states, it said.

(1 US dollar = 117.62 yen)

yasuhiko.seki@thomson.com

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