BUFFALO, W.Va. (AP) -- Toyota Motor Corp. is expanding production at its plant in West Virginia.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia announced Wednesday that the plant in Buffalo will begin producing engines for the Highlander sport utility vehicle in the fall.
The Buffalo plant, which opened in 1996, produces four and six-cylinder engines for Toyota and Lexus. It also produces automatic transmissions and automatic transmission gears.
Company spokeswoman Sandy Maynard says the addition of the Highlander engine is due to plant workers' "growth and good attitude towards improvement." The plant employs about 1,100 workers.
The plant laid off 120 part-time workers in December and scheduled non-production days to reduce inventory due to the recession.
