Toyota Motor (TM) has revealed that it will add a second production shift at its San Antonio Tundra pick-up truck assembly plant in Texas by February next year as inventories with the dealers have dried up. The addition of the shift will require 850 more workers at the plant.   The Japanese auto major has commented that it will hire new workers at the plant in addition to 75 ex-workers, who are being recalled as part of the ramp-up in employment.   In August, Toyota Motor announced its plan to shift production of the smaller Tacoma truck from California to San Antonio in 2010. The automaker plans to run its first online production trial for the Tacoma at the San Antonio plant in the next year spring. Altogether, the company has received more than 14,000 job applications in San Antonio for Tundra and Tacoma production.   Toyota has ...

Toyota Motor (TM) has released its plan to raise production in the U.S. for its pickup trucks as well as fuel-efficient cars by the end of 2009. A recovery in the housing sector and an immense demand generated by the Cash for Clunkers program are the key factors behind the increase in production. Toyota ’s full-sized pickup truck Tundra and mid-sized pickup truck Tacoma saw excellent sales in August. Tundra had its best monthly sales of the year at 7,872 units. Meanwhile, Tacoma sales were up 5% year-over-year to 12,547 units. The increase suggested an improvement in housing demand, as pickups are essentials in the construction industry. Toyota will raise manufacturing capacity of the Tacoma at a California plant. In the meantime, Tacoma production will be shifted to San Antonio, Texas (where Tundra pickups are produced) to ease the transition. Over the coming months, production of ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – July 9, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Colgate Palmolive (CL), China Mobile (CHL), ICICI Bank (IBN), Tele Norte (TNE) and Toyota Motor Corp. (TM).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

IMF Grows More Optimistic

While the U.S. is gaining share of the world economy relative to the other advanced economies, it is losing share to the developing parts of the world, most notably China and India. While the two emerging giants have not been immune to the world

...

Senior automotive industry analyst Paul Raman, CFA, recently returned from the San Diego Auto Show, had these comments to make about Toyota Motors (...

Senior automotive industry analyst Paul Raman, CFA, recently returned from the San Diego Auto Show, had these comments to make about Toyota Motors (TM), Honda Motor Company (HMC), Nissan Motors (NSANY) and others.Most -- if not all -- automakers are keeping an eye on joint venture and/or buyout opportunities within the industry in 2009.  Also pending in the early part of the year is the question of a further auto industry bailout by the U.S. Federal government, though this concerns the American Big Three, not the Japanese automakers.TOYOTAYaris - Sales are up 27% for this car that gets 32 MPG and has a 4 star crash rating with a economical price of $16K. There is not enough leg room and a strange dashboard. The interior needs a major upgrade.Tundra - Sales are down 25% for this pickup with 15 MPG. ...