"A shutdown is an option," a senior Toyota official said. Toyota will reach a decision in July before the bankrupt U.S. auto giant ends production of the Pontiac Vibe small car at the plant by the end of August. As part of its restructuring plan, GM withdrew from the joint venture, called New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., which had been operating since 1984.
If Toyota decides to continue the plant, it will acquire all shares of the joint venture owned by GM.
But sources close to the matter said Japan's top automaker would be reluctant to go out of its way to continue operations as it combats excess supply capacity and heavy losses on the back of a shrinking auto market.
At the same time, executives of Toyota, which has never closed a plant either in Japan or overseas, are also cautious about pursuing the option since the company had worked to protect employment in order to avoid frictions with the United States, the sources said.
Toyota is expected to reach a decision after weighing both the concerns of the local community and economic rationality.
NUMMI has been a key part of Toyota's entry into the U.S. market and a passing point in the career paths of the company's chief executives including the current president, Akio Toyoda.
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