Toyota chief to visit Brazil

Fujio Cho, president of Toyota Motor Corp., is expected to visit the Japanese automaker's Brazilian factories sometime this month. Although the visit is cloaked in secrecy, Mr. Cho is expected to announce that the Yaris, Toyota's most successful product in Europe, will be built in Brazil. The automaker has plentiful capacity at its factory in Indaiatuba, and the compact model will have a significant potential in the country. The plant has set up a second shift and currently manufactures 75 Corollas per day. The Yaris entry is just one of the moves Japanese automakers are making in Brazil. Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., supported by partner Renault SA, will produce some of its models in Parana. Honda Motor Co. Ltd. recently decided to transform its Brazilian subsidiary into its operational center for South America, and General Motors Corp. recently announced the Celta, the small car being built at the company's new Blue Macaw plant in Rio Grande du Sol.