Toyota to add jobs, invest in N. America factories

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- Toyota's top U.S. sales executive predicts his company will add jobs and build more models in North America as a hedge against a strong yen.

Jim Lentz, president and chief executive officer of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., said Toyota already makes about 70 percent of the models sold in North America in the region. He sees that percentage continuing to grow.

In eight months, the world's top automaker has announced it would hire 3,500 workers in North America and invest $1.6 billion its factories here.