Toyota-GM Plant Will Make Trucks

New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., the joint venture between Toyota and General Motors, said Tuesday that it will expand operations by producing Toyota pickup trucks. The joint venture, which dates to 1983, has limited its production to cars, but the operation has been losing money. Plans call for producing 100,000 Toyota trucks a year at the Fremont plant starting in the spring of 1991.

The decision had been long anticipated by industry observers, who expected Toyota to find a U.S. manufacturing site for trucks soon, partially to avoid a 25% tariff on imported trucks.

The project, which is subject to governmental approval, will add about 700 new jobs at NUMMI and calls for an investment of more than $200 million to the Fremont plant, the company said.