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At least 15 states jockeying for Toyota and Mazda factory jobs

Just a few weeks ago, Mazda and Toyota announced a partnership that would lead to an all-new $1.6 billion plant here in the United States. The plant will build EVs and is expected to employ roughly 4,000 people directly while creating thousands of indirect jobs through suppliers, shipping and more. The Detroit Free Press reports that as many as 15 Midwestern and Southern states are understandably interested in striking a deal with the automakers. Most of the states already have ties to the auto industry. While the Midwest has traditionally been home to auto manufacturing in the United States, in the past 25 years or so, the South has made a big push, offering tax incentives and a union-free workforce. Alabama alone is home to facilities from Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota. Others house a burgeoning tech or manufacturing industry ripe for the picking. Freep breaks down the pros and cons for each state, with much of the focus being on supply chains and a reliable and plentiful workforce. The latter is of particular concern in states like Alabama and Michigan that already have a big auto industry. Toyota may feel those areas have already been tapped for talent. Most of the states are along or adjacent to Interstate 75 and its extended roots, so others like Texas and Iowa will have to fight hard if they want this facility. It's only been a few weeks, though. With manufacturing jobs in such great demand and elected officials eager to show they're seeking them for their states, it wouldn't be surprising if a few more joined the fray. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: Detroit Free Press Green Plants/Manufacturing Mazda Toyota

Hyundai Prius-fighting hybrid spied wearing new camo

Hyundai's engineers certainly don't want the public to see its upcoming dedicated hybrid model in several of these new spy shots, but the company can't deny that the machine is on the way. These test cars were first spotted last summer as Prius-like five-door hatchbacks. However in these photos and the second set, it would seem that the model has morphed into a more sedan-like shape similar to the Chevy Volt. Unlike the last time we saw this car during arctic testing, the vehicle no longer is covered in plastic concealment. That obfuscation has been replaced with a very effective camo pattern on everything but the roof, and in several photos, workers are actively standing in the way of the spy shooters' lenses. Beyond the whole model's general shape, there are a few details to pick out, though. You can easily spot the outline of the brand's hexagonal grille up front. There appears to be a rather complicated air dam design there, too. In profile, the shape of the rear hatch creates an integrated spoiler at the back. While the camouflage makes it very hard to tell, we don't see a plug-in port on this example. According to our spies, this test car was being driven with a slew of other electrified models, including a BMW i3, Nissan Leaf, Volkswagen e-Golf, and Kia Soul EV. Given that group, perhaps the engineers were specifically benchmarking the electric performance for this outing. Earlier reports suggest that Hyundai's latest hybrid could debut in the second half of 2016. Power reportedly comes from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with hybrid assistance and a lithium-ion battery. Plug-in and five-door hatchback versions are also rumored.

Mazda's new Mexican plant capacity rises to 230,000

After the turmoil of last year, 2013 is getting off to a much better start for Mazda. The company has issued a release indicating that the forthcoming plant in Salamanca, Mexico has had its production capacity raised even though it isn't scheduled to go online until March 2014. The original plans called for a 140,000-unit capacity, 90,000 of that allotted for the Mazda2 and Mazda3, the remaining 50,000 for a small car Mazda would build for Toyota that would be based on the Mazda2. The new plans call for raising that by 90,000 units to a total of 230,000 units within two years, by the end of March 2016, and it looks like it will all go toward Mazda production to satisfy growing demand for Skyactiv vehciles. The Mexican plant's opening will be the return of Mazda manufacturing to North America, after Mazda6 production was moved back to Japan last year.
More good news for the company is that it projects 10 billion yen ($114 million) in net income for the financial year that will end in March. That would be a welcome turnaround from the 100-billion-yen loss in the previous financial year, part of a series of three annual losses in a four-year span.
You'll find the press release with the factory update below.