New Toyota Plant Opens in MS Thursday

Mississippians are about to start building what Forbes Magazine says is the "most popular car in the world" - the Toyota Corolla.  The first one made in Mississippi rolls off the line Thursday.

The Mississippi plant has been years in the making and is expected to generate millions for the state in the years ahead.  Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi, Inc. is in the small town of Blue Springs, about 20 miles outside of Tupelo.

In the next year the plant will employ as many 2,000 workers.  Right now more than 1,200 are already on the job, and Toyota is still hiring.  We're told 90% of the total workforce will be from Mississippi.

There has been a lot of competition for these jobs.  More than 41,000 people from across the country applied for positions.  Toyota is no longer hiring for production jobs, but they are accepting applications for maintenance jobs.

To apply, click here.

As you can imagine, central Mississippi Toyota dealers are excited about the new plant and new product.  Bryan Shufelt, who's the General Manager of Herrin-Gear Toyota says his sales staff will have a new sense of pride in the Corolla since it'll be built just 200 miles up the road.  Shufelt also believes it'll help business at Herrin-Gear.  He says relatives of Toyota employees will develop loyalty to the brand, and as a result, we may see more of them on the road.

"I think it's great for our economy; it's great for our state," says Shufelt.  "Our availability really won't change, it'll be the same, but just to have the car built here, I think is just a great thing for our state, and I think it'll raise awareness around this area of the Toyota product."

The new Blue Springs plant is the only place in the US the Corolla will be built, according to the company.  It's capable of rolling out 150,000 cars every year.