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$147 million investment creates 240 new jobs; total employment nears 1,000
Toyota Alabama-produced engines will go into eight of 12
Toyota models assembled in North America
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (September 29, 2011) – State and local officials joined Toyota team members and executives today to mark the start of four-cylinder engine production at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama, Inc. (TMMAL). At a separate reception last evening, TMMAL commemorated its ten-year anniversary in Alabama.
The addition of four-cylinder engine production boosts TMMAL’s employment to almost 1,000 and total investment to $637 million. Total annual engine capacity of four-cylinder, V6 and V8 engines is now more than 500,000. TMMAL is the only Toyota plant globally to produce four cylinder, V6 and V8 engines.
“Toyota has been a reliable and dedicated partner in strengthening relationships with the Alabama communities where their associates live and work,” said Alabama Governor Robert Bentley. “Now, ten years later, TMMAL has made a major economic impact in this region. TMMAL is an enduring, reliable and dedicated partner in building healthy communities in Alabama which can, in turn, strengthen our nation and our world.”
“TMMAL’s team members’ focus on quality, safety and outstanding commitment to continuous improvement and team work is second-to-none,” said Toyota Motor Corporation Executive Vice President and Representative Director, Atsushi Niimi. “Engines now produced in Huntsville will go into eight Toyota models assembled in North America, furthering our commitment to localizing production. And by adding four-cylinder engines to TMMAL’s mix, we will be better prepared to react to changes in market demand.”
TMMAL-produced four-cylinder engines will go into the all-new 2012 Camry, Highlander, RAV4, Sienna and Venza. V6 and V8 engines are being produced for the Tundra and Tacoma pick-up trucks and the Sequoia SUV.
The four-cylinder expansion at TMMAL now allows the facility to supply engines to every Toyota vehicle assembly plant in North America except the new facility in Blue Springs, Mississippi, which is scheduled to start production this fall.
Both of Toyota’s Bodine Aluminum castings plants, located in Troy, Mo., and Jackson, Tenn., have also added capacity to provide cylinder heads and blocks to TMMAL. Combined investment of these two facilities is $25 million and 60 new jobs were created.
To express appreciation to the Huntsville community for its strong support, TMMAL President Jim Bolte announced two separate $50,000 gifts each to Habitat for Humanity of Madison County and Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center.
“This is a time for our team members to celebrate the tremendous work they have done over the years to prepare for four-cylinder production,” said Bolte. “Their commitment to building quality products as safely as possible has helped TMMAL win new business, and we look forward to many more successful years.”
At last evening’s reception to commemorate its ten-year anniversary as a member of the Huntsville community, TMMAL donated two Toyota vehicles and ten gifts of $10,000 each to ten area agencies.
TMMAL’s current annual capacity
and cumulative production through August 31, 2011
|
Engine Type
|
Annual Capacity
|
Cumulative Production
|
|
Four cylinder
|
216,000
|
NA
|
|
V6
|
146,000
|
695,995
|
|
V8
|
144,000
|
1,088,597
|
|
TOTAL
|
506,000
|
1,784,592
|
TMMAL’s Major Milestones
|
Date
|
Milestone
|
|
February 2001
|
Toyota announces $220 million investment to build a V8 engine plant. Named Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama, Inc., it will employ 350 and it will mark the first time ever that V8 engines will be produced outside of Japan
|
|
June 2001
|
Groundbreaking ceremony
|
|
April 2003
|
Production of V8 engines begins
|
|
July 2003
|
TMMAL announces a new $20 million investment to expand operations to produce V6 engines. 150 new jobs will be created
|
|
July 2004
|
Groundbreaking ceremony for V6 engines
|
|
September 2004
|
TMMAL announces a new $250 million investment to double its size and increase engine capacity. 300 new jobs will be created
|
|
May 2005
|
Production of V6 engines begins
|
|
December 2006
|
Production begins on the all-new 5.7 liter V8 engine
|
|
January 2008
|
One millionth engine produced
|
|
April 2009
|
Jim Bolte named TMMAL’s first American president
|
|
August 2009
|
TMMAL announces a new $147 million investment to produce four cylinder engines becoming the only Toyota plant globally to produce four cylinder, V6 and V8 engines. 240 new jobs will be created
|
|
September 2011
|
Production of four cylinder engines begins. TMMAL’s cumulative investment is $637 million and employment reaches almost 1,000
|
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) established operations in North America in 1957 and currently operates 14 manufacturing plants, including one under construction. There are more than 1,800 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships in North America which sold more than 2 million vehicles in 2010. Toyota directly employs more than 35,000 in North America and its investment here is currently valued at more than $23 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design. Toyota’s annual purchasing of parts, materials, goods and services from North American suppliers totals nearly $25 billion.
For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.
Media Contacts
Tina Gess 256.714.3633
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