Toyota's output capacity to reach 900,000 units in China

Toyota Motor Corp will boost its annual production capacity in China to some 900,000 units by 2009 in a bid to meet surging demand in the country, it was learned Tuesday.

The top Japanese automaker will soon announce plans to build a second joint venture plant in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, to manufacture the Camry sedan at a pace of 200,000 units a year, informed sources said.

In addition, Toyota will increase capacity at its second plant in Tianjin by 50 pct in late 2009.

The string of moves will raise the automaker's overall annual capacity in China from the current 643,000 units to 893,000 units.

Toyota's first plant in Guangzhou is now producing the Camry and Yaris models almost at full capacity.

Reflecting China's rapid economic growth, automobile sales totaled 8.79 million units in the country in 2007, making it the world's biggest market after the United States.