Economic officials say the Hino Motors Manufacturing plant in Marion will remain open, even though the Toyota truck plant it supplies is to shut down for three months.

The $225 million plant began production in October 2006 of axle assemblies and suspension components for the Toyota Tundra. Toyota officials are suspending production of the truck at the company's plant in San Antonio, a factory that Arkansas officials tried to get for the Marion site.

Marion economic development director Kay Brockwell says Hino officials told her the east Arkansas facility will remain open. She says the company has not disclosed whether production will continue.

Presently, the Hino plant is in a previously planned shutdown from July 11-22.

Toyota is suspending production of the Tundra pickup in San Antonio and the Sequoia sport utility vehicle at its Princeton, Indiana, plant for three months starting next month.

Next spring, it will stop producing Tundras in Princeton and will consolidate all truck production in San Antonio. The company cited declining demand that accompanied the sharp rise in fuel prices.

Tundra sales fell 54% in June compared with last year.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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