Chavez also lambasted Toyota

Toyota’s Venezuelan unit has yet to be inspected by the government, today’s Nikkei [sub] reports. As a matter of fact, they haven’t heard a peep.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez last week threatened to nationalize the plants of foreign car makers, and ordered his Trade Minister Eduardo Saman to “immediately” conduct a thorough inspection. Nothing happened.

Chavez said if Toyota doesn’t make a sufficient number of “rustic vehicles,” then he will nationalize the plant and bring in the Chinese to run it.

Chavez also lambasted Toyota and other auto assemblers including Fiat and GM for not bringing the latest technology to Venezuela.

The Trade Ministry is most likely on an extended Christmas holiday. We’ll see what the new year will bring: More rhetoric, action, or nada,