Toyota to Export U.S.-Built Corolla to Latin America and the Caribbean

Company to build upon record U.S. exports in 2012

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Sep 26, 2013, 06:30 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota today announced that it will begin exporting U.S.-built^* Corolla sedans to 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2014. These shipments are expected to build upon Toyota's all-time record export of more than 124,000 U.S.-assembled vehicles to 21 global markets in 2012, an increase of 45 percent over the prior year.

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"Toyota's U.S. manufacturing operations continue to grow as a key supplier of cars and trucks for global markets, which is only possible thanks to the dedication and high-quality work of our team members here," said Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota's North America Region, "the export of U.S.-built Corolla sedans to Latin America and the Caribbean will help to further solidify our U.S. manufacturing base."

Once production begins in April 2014, Toyota expects to export more than 7,500 Corolla sedans to Latin America and the Caribbean during the first year of sales. These vehicles will be built at the company's Tupelo, Miss. plant, which employs about 2,000 team members and represents an $800 million investment.

*Toyota vehicles and components are built using U.S. and globally sourced parts.

About Toyota
Toyota, the world's top automaker and creator of the Prius, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands. Over the past 50 years, we've built more than 25 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ nearly 40,000 people (more than 37,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships sold more than 2.3 million cars and trucks in 2012 – and about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 20 years are still on the road today.

Toyota partners with philanthropic organizations across the country, with a focus on education, safety and the environment. As part of this commitment, we share the company's extensive know-how garnered from building great cars and trucks to help community organizations and other nonprofits expand their ability to do good. (NYSE: TM) For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.