Toyota’s president cancels plan to attend Detroit show

Toyota Motor Corp. President Katsuaki Watanabe has canceled plans to attend the North American International Auto Show next month, company sources said.

Watanabe, a regular visitor to the show since becoming president and CEO of Toyota in 2005, had intended to come to the 2009 show, where Toyota will unveil the next Prius hybrid as well as a hybrid for the premium Lexus line.

The company had no immediate comment on his change of plans.

But the number of executives from foreign companies attending the show appears to be down.