With a total investment of 4.3 billion yuan ($629.6 million), the new plant will have an annual capacity of 200,000 vehicles, lifting the total capacity of the joint venture to 360,000 vehicles. 

 

On the same day, a Toyota Highlander rolled off the production line of the new plant, according to Toyota. Priced between 248,800 yuan ($36,428) and 429,800 yuan ($62,928), the SUV offers two engine options: the 2.7-liter and 3.5-liter.  

 

The new plant will only make the Highlander in the beginning. The sales target for the SUV this year is 20,000 units, said Toyota. 

 

GAC Toyota's first plant started operation in 2006. It now builds the Camry mid-sized sedan and the Yaris small car.  

 

Besides GAC Toyota, Toyota has a joint venture manufacturing facility with China FAW Group Corp., making the Vios, Corolla, Reiz and Crown sedans, the Land Cruiser and Land Cruiser Prado SUVs and the Prius hybrid. 

 

At present, Toyota's joint venture with FAW is also undergoing a capacity expansion to 590,000 units, up from 440,000 units now. Details on when the capacity expansion will be complete are not available. 

 

In 2008, Toyota's two joint ventures in China sold 538,049 vehicles, up 18.8 percent from 2007, according to Jato Dynamics.