Toyota to end joint venture with GM in Calif.

NEW YORK (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. is moving toward liquidating its stake in a California manufacturing plant that it jointly operated with General Motors, the Japanese automaker said Friday.

The plant’s fate was thrown into question last month when GM announced it was withdrawing from the 50-50 joint venture. General Motors Co. emerged from bankruptcy protection shortly after the announcement and the company’s stake in NUMMI is now part of Motors Liquidation Co. — also known as Old GM — where it will be liquidated under court supervision.

The NUMMI plant, established in 1984, employs 4,600 workers and makes the Pontiac Vibe station wagon for GM, and the Corolla compact car and Tacoma pickup truck for Toyota.

Toyota has decided to begin discussions with the “Old GM” toward dissolving the joint venture, said Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco.

“Since GM pulled out, we’ve had to look at all kinds of things we could do,” Nolasco said. “Toyota right now is in a really difficult situation. We’re pressed to make hard decisions.”

He said it will take time for Toyota to “work out how to wind down” the Fremont, Calif.-based New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., also known as NUMMI.

A GM spokeswoman in Detroit declined to comment on Friday.