No green car has made a larger impact on US soil than the Toyota Prius. Thanks to its celebrity endorsements it was able to breakthrough as an alternative to gas guzzlers in a country that’s always favoured big, powerful vehicles. So it should come as no surprise that the Americans will soon be able to call the Prius one of their own.
No, Toyota hasn’t been sold to an American company – but the Prius will soon be manufactured in the USA.
The company has a plant under construction in Blue Springs, Mississippi, which was originally intended for petroleum powered Highlander SUVs – however, high demand for fuel-efficient vehicles has led to a change in approach as beginning from 2010 the Prius will be built there instead.
The Prius has been in high demand on US soil leading to shortages in supplies and though the Highlander will still be built in the USA (at a plant in Indiana), Toyota has suspended Tundra and Sequoia production from now until November due to a drop in truck demand.
The Prius is not the first Toyota hybrid to be built in the USA – that honour belongs to the Camry which is built in Kentucky.
