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Plans for Toyota-Mazda plant still coming together, exec says
The look of Toyota and Mazda's new automotive factory in Huntsville, as well as the nature of the two corporations' working relationship, is still being envisioned, according to a Toyota executive.
Automotive News quotes Brian Krinock, senior vice president in charge of vehicle plants at Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, who it says will play a key role in the construction and launch of the plant and its supply chain.
Krinock said in an interview that the plant will offer new supplier opportunities, both for the Corolla Toyota plans to make there, and for the Mazda crossover. However, Krinock says there's more to the joint venture.
"It's a new company," he said. "Not Toyota and not Mazda, but a new company. There's no name for it yet. We envision that the two companies will have new synergies working together."
That may not include electric vehicles at the Huntsville plant. Krinock said the plan currently is for Huntsville to be focused on products that are already on the market. Multiple parts of the company, he said, are focused on electrification.
"Those disciplines may merge or they may be separate for a period of time. But the partnership, long term, brings all those pieces together," he said. "But right now, the plan for the new plant is about the products we already make."
