Toyota breaks ground on new plant

Watanabe was joined by state, local and company officials to toss the ceremonial shovel of dirt signifying the start of construction on the $1.3 billion plant.

Toyota will build the Highlander sport utility vehicle, the company’s most popular SUV, at the new plant. Production is scheduled to begin by 2010 with about 2,000 workers.

Ray Tanguay, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, said the foundation will be poured on the plant by the end of summer.

“Next will come the steel, and then you’ll see real progress,” he said to a standing-room-only crowd of about 600.

Watanabe said it was the regional effort by leaders in Pontotoc, Union and Lee counties, along with state support, that brought Toyota to this point.

“Your valuable support made this day possible and we salute you for your efforts,” Watanabe said. “Today, we celebrate the start of construction for Toyota’s newest plant in North America ? Toyota Mississippi.”

Toyota announced Feb. 27 that it had selected the 1,700-acre Wellspring Project megasite to build its next manufacturing plant. Local officials had until May 1 to clear the core 450 acres of the site. Falkner-based Hill Bros. Construction completed the job in just 16 days, on March 28.

“Today’s groundbreaking actually puts this project ahead of schedule and we intend to keep it that way,” Gov. Haley Barbour said. “We want Toyota to see Mississippi as the best partner they’ve ever had.”