NAGOYA (Kyodo) Toyota Motor Corp. may operate the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant in California on its own to produce the Prius hybrid after General Motors Corp. withdrew from the joint venture, a senior company official said Thursday.
"We've upgraded the facilities during the past five to six years, so it would be physically possible to manufacture the Prius," the official said.
"A shutdown is also an option, but it would be very challenging for Toyota, which has little experience in closing down big plants," the official added.