Toyota Plant Delay

TOKYO (AP) - A senior Toyota executive says plans for a new auto assembly plant in Mississippi are being delayed by worries about slumping American auto sales and a broader U.S. economic slowdown.

The vehicle assembly plant being built in Blue Springs was initially to be up and running by late 2009 or early 2010.

But Toyota Executive Vice President Mitsuo Kinoshita says that has now been pushed back to mid-2010 after Toyota reviewed the plans and considered the signs of a slowdown in the U.S. market following the subprime mortgage crisis.

Toyota had been on a roll with its offerings of small cars and gas-electric hybrids amid soaring oil prices.

But Toyota is seeing trouble signs in months ahead because of an expected decline in U.S. sales and a weak dollar that will erode the value of its overseas earnings.