Toyota Ignores Ford And Doubles Down On Development Of A New Corolla

In the context of this week’s news, the Corolla’s factory retooling and platform swap makes one marvel at what name recognition and a simple bodystyle can do for a model.

For its 12th generation, the Corolla moves onto the modular TNGA platform shared by many of its stablemates. Some 400 new jobs will be created at the company’s Blue Springs, Mississippi assembly plant to complete the transition, as well as increase the plant’s output. Toyota needs to free up plant space in Cambridge, Ontario to make room for the 2019 RAV4, so it’s sending extra output south of the border.

“We will be able to respond quicker and be more flexible in order to meet market demands down the road,” said Toyota Mississippi President Sean Suggs in a statement.

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ilovecar2015 - 4/27/2018 11:44:47 AM

+2 Boost

Because the Corolla is selling incredibly well compared to the Focus, plus Ford exit will mean a bigger pie for Toyota. And one important thing, the Corolla is a global car that has been selling for 50 years, not just a vehicle in the US.

TomM - 4/28/2018 6:32:36 AM

+2 Boost

Indeed - the Focus is a European product first - but sells around the world - and will continue to sell in the USA - although it is NOT well suited for that purpose.

The Corolla is also a World car - and SEDANS still sell well in many markets outside the USA - especially Japan and China. Having been a world leader for so long - I suspect Toyota will keep that line going for a long time.

malba2367 - 4/27/2018 12:35:46 PM

+6 Boost

Note that Ford is not discontinuing Fiesta/Focus globally. They will no longer selling them (except for one focus variant) in the US. They are exiting the midsize sedan segment globally.

Tiberius1701A - 4/27/2018 12:42:56 PM

+2 Boost

@malba2367 ... So the one they will have for us here in the Colonies will be one focused Focus???

TomM - 4/28/2018 6:37:17 AM

-2 Boost

THAT is why the Corolla is so reliable - it is basic transportation and Toyota even has resisted the Turbo engine movement for it.

Back in the 50's and 60's - American cars had 6 cylinder engines that were long in the tooth - crank windows - manual seats - no cruise control or even power brakes - mostly no power steering - ONE VACUUM HOSE on the engine - and they went forward and backwards and lasted forever.

The 70's came - brought a lot of NEWER features and the cars started to get LESS reliable - so Japan supplied 4 cylinder engine - no power brakes or steering - crank windows - AMFM Mono radios - and these cars were hyper reliable too.

Today - most cars have all the features available - and as a result cars are not as reliable as they once were - the fact of adding features.

MrEE - 4/27/2018 8:00:23 PM

+1 Boost

What alegacy, the industry's best selling model of all time. Besting VW, Honda and Ford, even the F-series.

skinny - 4/28/2018 3:02:17 PM

+6 Boost

Cars not as reliable as they include once were? Seems like even with all the features today, cars are way more reliable. Cars today require very little maintenance.

MDarringer - 4/28/2018 8:20:21 PM

+2 Boost

Don't mind TomM's idiocy. He doesn't need facts or truths for his nonsense. ALL of the data shows that cars are much more reliable than decades ago. The entire industry has gotten a lot better at building reliable cars. The problem is that some still lag. Alfa Romeos have reliability issues that make them substandard, but compared to Alfa Romeos of the 70s and 80s modern Alfa Romeos--relatively speaking--are stellar for reliability.