Japanese automaker Toyota Motors is set to export its Corolla sedans which are manufactured in the US to 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2014.
These shipments are expected to build upon the company's record export of more than 124,000 US-assembled vehicles to 21 global markets in 2012.
The company will manufacture these vehicles at its plant in Tupelo, Mississippi, which employs about 2,000 team members and represents an $800m investment.
It plans to export more than 7,500 Corolla sedans to Latin America and the Caribbean during the first year of sales once it has commenced production in April 2014.
Toyota North America Region CEO Jim Lentz said: "the export of U.S.-built Corolla sedans to Latin America and the Caribbean will help to further solidify our US manufacturing base."
Meanwhile, the company's US division, Toyota Motor Sales USA, has issued a voluntary safety recall on its 615,000 Sienna minivans from Model Years 2004-2005 and 2007-2009 to address problems with the shift lever assembly.
This damage will result in movement of the shift lever out of the P position without the driver depressing the brake pedal, which leads to vehicle roll-away.
The company will notify all its customers by first class mail to return their vehicles to a Toyota dealer for replacement of the shift lock solenoid with a new one.
Image: Toyota plans to export its US-manufactured Corolla sedans to 18 countries. Photo courtesy: Toyota Motor Sales, USA Inc.
