Toyota, Mazda to build new US plant

New York: Japanese automakers Toyota and Mazda are expected to announce that their $1.6 billion joint US manufacturing plant will be built in the Southern state of Alabama, US media reported. The companies last year announced plans to build a new US factory creating up to 4,000 jobs. Press reports varied as to the exact location of the new factory. Bloomberg cited an unnamed source who said it would be located in Montgomery in central Alabama, while the New York Times said it would be near Huntsville in the northern part of the state. Toyota said it will produce the Corolla sedan at the new plant, while Mazda will build new “cross-over” vehicles. — AFP