Toyota Motor Corp said it has invested 3.8 billion yuan (US$557 million) to build a new plant in China.

Sichuan FAW Toyota Motor Co Ltd, the venture with FAW Group Co, will locate the new facility in Changchun in northeast China's Jilin Province with production scheduled to start in the first half of 2012.

The plant will be able to turn out 100,000 units of Corolla, Toyota's popular family sedan, at the initial stage.

Construction of the factory has already begun in October 2008.