Toyota to Halt Voltz SUV Production in California Because of Poor Sales

TOKYO December 24, 2003; the AP reported that Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will halt production of the Voltz, a sport utility vehicle manufactured jointly with General Motors Corp. at its U.S. plant, because of poor sales.

Production of the Voltz, which has been based in Freemont, Calif., will be terminated next spring, said Toyota spokesman Taro Takada.

Toyota, the country's top automaker, had released the Voltz exclusively for the Japanese market in August 2002 hoping for sales of 1,500 units per month.

In November, aggregate sales totaled 8,802 -- far short of its expected 24,000 sales, Takada said.

The Voltz was the first full-fledged model jointly developed between Toyota and GM. Despite the halt, Takada said there will be no change in cooperation between the two automakers.

Toyota's Corolla and Tacoma models and GM's Pontiac Vibe are also made at the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. in Freemont for the North American market.