A senior Toyota executive says plans for a new auto assembly plant in Mississippi are being delayed by worries about slumping American auto sales and a broader U.S. economic slowdown.

The vehicle assembly plant being built in Blue Springs was initially to be up and running by late 2009 or early 2010.

But Toyota executive vice-president Mitsuo Kinoshita says that has now been pushed back to mid-2010 after Toyota reviewed the plans and considered the signs of a slowdown in the U.S. market following the sub-prime mortgage crisis.

Toyota had been on a roll with its offerings of small cars and gas-electric hybrids amid soaring oil prices.

But Toyota is seeing trouble signs in months ahead because of an expected decline in U.S. sales and a weak dollar that will erode the value of its overseas earnings.