Earlier today at the Chicago Auto Show, Toyota announced that it is shifting production of Highlander SUVs from Japan to the car maker’s plant in Princeton, Indiana.

The move will result in 400 new jobs at the plant and an additional $400 million investment in the facility. Toyota expects this change will allow it to manufacture an additional 50,000 Highlanders a year, some of which are intended for export.

“We plan to export some of those Highlanders to other countries,” the Wall Street Journal quotes Toyota North America President Yoshi Inaba as saying. “Our exports of made-in-America products to 21 countries has topped 100,000 vehicles and we’ve just begun exporting American Camry sedans and Sienna minivans to South Korea.”

Inaba also said the company hopes it investment will lead to more jobs at the companies that supply parts used in the manufacturing of the Highlander.

Toyota to Shift Highlander Hybrid Production to U.S. From Japan [WSJ.com]

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