BLUE SPRINGS, Miss. (AP) -- At 7:22 a.m. Tuesday, the 100,000th Corolla was assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi in Blue Springs.
The milestone comes almost a year after the plant began production on Oct. 24, 2011. Toyota held an official opening ceremony in November.
Officials say this particular Corolla, in Barcelona Red with a dark gray interior, is headed to a customer in southern California.
The plant employs 2,000 workers which are called "team members" by the Japanese automaker.
When fully operational, the plant is expected to produce up to 150,000 Corollas a year. Toyota also builds the Corolla in Canada.
Toyota spokesman Victor Vanov says hiring is continuing at the Blue Spring plant, which continues to fill skilled worker positions and administrative posts.
