Toyota Executive Says Venza CUV Is Very American

When it goes into production in November at Toyota Motor Corp.'s Georgetown, KY, plant, the new '09 Venza cross/utility vehicle will have seen the least involvement from Japan of any North American product, a company official says.

“(The Venza is) almost totally North America,” Steve St. Angelo, president of Toyota Motor Mfg. Kentucky, says. “Our team members have been involved since day one, and they've really provided a lot of good ideas and solutions and countermeasures.”

St. Angelo confirms the slow-selling Camry Solara will be exiting production once the '08 model year is up, as the Venza takes its spot on Georgetown's No.2 production line.