Toyota may upgrade Georgetown, KY plant

[DetroitNut90]

Toyota is considering a $413 million upgrade to its Georgetown, Ky., plant so it can add a model to the Camry, Avalon and Solara vehicles it makes there.

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority yesterday gave preliminary approval for $25 million in economic incentives for the work. The Japanese automaker has about 7,000 employees at the Georgetown factory, but spokesman Rick Hesterberg said the upgrades would not result in any new jobs.

The money would be invested in the assembly and production areas, he said, but he wouldn't discuss the new vehicle being considered for the plant.

Catherine Madden, senior automotive analyst for market-research firm Global Insight near Boston, said she expects the new vehicle will be a midsized sport-touring wagon, similar to the Matrix but larger.

Madden said the plant would be a logical choice for the new model because the frame would be based on the Camry. She said about 80,000 of the vehicles would be made each year. Some of the Camry production at Georgetown could be shifted to a plant in Lafayette, Ind., to free up room, she said.

Detroit Free Press

[Robert Hall]

Interesting...I'll have to check w/ my cousin Mike about this...he does something with interior assembly there.

[regfootball]

maybe a larger vibe type x-over based on the camlee?

[Snate]

So they are going to get economic incentives for no more workers? How does that one work?

[Windy-57]

maybe a larger vibe type x-over based on the camlee?

Good guess. It'll be the production version of the FT-SX concept from a couple of years ago.