Stunning Move -- Is Toyota Planning On Leaving Torrance For Texas?
TORRANCE (CBSLA.com) — Long a fixture in the South Bay, car giant Toyota is reportedly pulling up stakes and moving.
Bloomberg.com is reporting the company plans on leaving Torrance and heading to Texas.
KCAL9's Brittney Hopper reported from a quiet Toyota headquarters Sunday night.
The move, she said, would obviously affect thousands of people. It would also be a huge blow to California's economy. The Torrance campus reportedly employs more than 5,300 in sales, finance, marketing, engineering and product planning.
Torrance was originally selected because of its proximity to the port complex -- easy importing of cars.
Hopper said that word is traveling quickly around Torrance.
"Toyota has been here for many, many years and this is peoples livelihood," said Annette Sochia, a Torrance resident, "This is how they survive. This is families and I think it will really hurt the city of Torrence and many thousands of people."
Hopper reached out to the mayor of Torrance and when asked if he knew anything about an announcement being made by Toyota, he said, "Yes, but just speculating what it is wouldn't be good." He did say he would make a comment tomorrow morning when he knows more.
Hopper also tried to reach Toyota for an official statement but she said they had no comment for now.
