Susann Kazunas is honored to serve as group vice president of manufacturing business operations and production engineering where she is responsible for production engineering, manufacturing strategy, new technology development, environmental and facilities activities at Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). In this role, Kazunas leads long term manufacturing strategic initiatives for Toyota’s North American manufacturing facilities with focus on improved competitiveness. In production engineering, Kazunas oversees equipment and process preparation for all manufacturing facilities. This includes vehicle, unit, battery engineering, as well as building construction. As executive safety officer, Kazunas guides safety activities and initiatives across North American operations.

Prior to this role, Kazunas was president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas (TMMTX), where she led all production and administrative functions at the plant. Located deep in the heart of Texas, the San Antonio manufacturing facility is the exclusive home to the iconic Toyota Tundra and the all-hybrid Toyota Sequoia, assembled on the same production line.

Kazunas joined Toyota in 1998 at Toyota Kentucky, working primarily in the stamping and weld shops. During her tenure with Toyota, she has held leadership positions in manufacturing and production engineering at Toyota Kentucky, TMNA, Toyota Motor Corporation Commercial Vehicle Company, and Toyota Texas.

Kazunas is an active member in the local community and serves on the University of Kentucky College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council. She also serves on the board of advisors for The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, based in Washington, D.C.

Over her career, Kazunas has received numerous awards recognizing her leadership and impact in the manufacturing industry. She was named a 40 Under 40 Emerging Leader by Automotive News and received the STEP Ahead Award from The Manufacturing Institute. Most recently, she was included in the Texas Business Journal’s Texas 100 list of impactful Texans, San Antonio Business Journal’s South Texas Power Players, and Automotive News’ 100 Leading Women, and 2025 Automotive News All-Star for Manufacturing.

Kazunas holds  a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Midway College.

 

 

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