Toyota to build engine plant in Brazil for local auto output.

SAO PAULO, Aug. 8 Kyodo

Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will build a plant in Brazil to make engines for use in local production of its mainline Corolla and Etios models.

The new plant in Porto Feliz on the outskirts of Sao Paulo will start production in the latter half of 2015, capable of producing up to around 200,000 engines per year, according to Toyota.

The biggest Japanese automaker has been planning to double its sales in the South American country to 200,000 vehicles in 2013 from the previous year by launching production of the Etios compact car, designed for emerging economies, at the end of September at a new local vehicle plant due to open on Thursday.

With production at the new engine plant, Toyota plans to raise local content ratios for the Corolla and Etios to 85 percent each, up from the current 70 and 65 percent, respectively, it said.