Toyota says it is still building Prius

Despite reports to the contrary, it seems like the future north Mississippi Toyota plant is still committed to building the Prius hybrid vehicle. Cari Gervin has more.

Jim Lenz, the president of Toyota Motor Sales USA, had tongues wagging on Thursday after he said it was, “conceivable” that something other than the Prius would be built at the unfinished plant near Tupelo.

Bloomberg News reported that Lenz, speaking in DC on Wednesday, said that just as the plant was originally scheduled to produce the Highlander SUV, the decision to produce the Prius could, “still be moved around.”

But according to Toyota spokeswoman Barbara McDaniel, Lenz’s remarks were taken out of context. In response to his comments, she said there are officially no other plans than what has been announced.

Governor Haley Barbour also issued a statement saying he has not been advised of any changes but would continue to work on behalf of the company’s best interests.

For MPB News, I’m Cari Gervin in Oxford.