Legacy is built over time, shaped by vision, partnership, and people. Across five states, Toyota’s journey reflects that truth. These sites represent more than manufacturing; they are places where careers are built, families are supported, and futures take shape.

From their earliest beginnings to the present day, each location tells a story of transformation. Side by side, these “then and now” moments reveal the power of collaboration between a company and the communities that welcomed it.

40 Years of Toyota Kentucky

BEFORE
In the late 1980’s, the farmland of Central Kentucky, long defined by world-famous Thoroughbreds and legendary bourbon, was about to add a new chapter. In 1986, across 1,300 acres of Bluegrass countryside, Toyota announced plans to build a world-class manufacturing facility. What began as pasture would soon become the foundation for something transformative: thousands of long-term, good-paying careers and the future home of the Camry, an icon of craftsmanship and quality.

ARRIVAL & DECISION
Local leaders saw the opportunity right away, but earning Toyota’s first wholly owned U.S. manufacturing plant meant convincing the company’s global leadership. Leading that charge was Governor Martha Layne Collins, a quiet but determined trailblazer. While skeptics asked “why Kentucky,” she asked, “why not?” With a mix of grace, steady resolve, and strategic vision, she helped secure a landmark partnership. On a cold November day in 1986, Toyota and Kentucky made it official.

TODAY
Four decades later, Toyota Kentucky stands as one of the largest and most comprehensive vehicle manufacturing plants in the world. The promise of those early days has been fully realized. Beyond the plant, the impact continues across the region, including more than $165 million invested in local nonprofits. From the Camry to the Sienna, RAV4, and Solara, iconic vehicles have rolled off its lines, but its true legacy goes far beyond that. It lives in the people, collaboration and community that have grown alongside Toyota Kentucky.

35 Years of Toyota Missouri

BEFORE
Toyota Missouri’s story begins long before Toyota came to the state, with the founding of the Bodine Pattern Company in St. Louis in 1912. Built on craftsmanship and precision, Bodine earned a reputation for high-quality patterns and metal castings. By the 1940s, it had become a regional pioneer in heat-treating aluminum castings for military and aircraft applications.

ARRIVAL & DECISION
As Toyota expanded its U.S. footprint, it recognized the need for specialized casting expertise and found a natural fit in Bodine. In 1990, Toyota acquired the company, bringing a deep legacy of craftsmanship into its growing network. Just a year later, in 1991, Toyota broke ground on a new facility in Troy, Missouri.

Troy, a farming community outside of St. Louis, won the new plant with the help of the Troy Development Committee, a group of local business leaders. By 1993, production was underway, with cylinder heads and intake manifolds shipped to Toyota Kentucky to support Camry production.

AFTER
More than three decades later, Toyota Missouri has become an important part of Toyota’s manufacturing network. The plant, now a $562 million investment, employs more than 1,000 team members and produces aluminum cylinder heads for vehicles including the Tundra, Camry, and Corolla. As it supports Toyota vehicle production, it also gives back to the local community with more than $4.3 million donated to area nonprofits.

30 Years of Toyota West Virginia

BEFORE
In the early 1990s, Southern West Virginia, known for its strength in energy production and manufacturing, was on the verge of a new chapter. Speculation grew that a world-class automaker was considering the region. That speculation soon became reality when Toyota announced plans to build a state-of-the-art facility along the Kanawha River in Putnam County, transforming a promising industrial site into the foundation for long-term opportunity and advanced manufacturing.

ARRIVAL & DECISION
Toyota’s decision to invest in West Virginia was shaped as much by relationships as it was by strategy. At a time when the company was intentionally expanding its U.S. footprint, the state offered more than just a location; it offered stability and a shared long-term vision. U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller played an important role in fostering that connection, helping build confidence through his longstanding relationship with the Toyoda family. Those conversations, over time, led to a defining moment: in 1996, Toyota and West Virginia formalized a partnership that continues to deliver impact decades later.

TODAY
Today, Toyota West Virginia employs more than 2,000 team members and represents a $3.3 billion investment, assembling essential components for vehicles across North America. With more than $11 million invested across the local community, its impact reaches far beyond the facility.

30 Years of Toyota Indiana

BEFORE
In the southwestern corner of Indiana, between the Ohio and Wabash Rivers, 1,160 acres of land in Princeton sat quietly as part of the region’s rural landscape. By the mid-1990s, however, that land was poised for transformation as Toyota began preparing the site for what would become its second U.S. vehicle manufacturing facility.

ARRIVAL & DECISION
Indiana’s leaders saw the opportunity clearly. With a skilled workforce, strong interstate and rail connections, and a central location within the U.S., Gibson County was perfectly positioned. Governor Evan Bayh played a key role in bringing the vision to life, championing the state as a premier destination for advanced manufacturing. When Toyota ultimately selected Princeton, then-president Hiroshi Okuda captured the spirit of the decision, noting that “the people of this state have the spirit to build a good thing.” Once built, the 1.6 million square foot facility would employ 1,300 people to assemble an all-new, full-size truck – the Toyota Tundra.

TODAY
Today, Toyota Indiana produces popular models including the Toyota Sienna, Grand Highlander, and Lexus TX. The plant has grown to employ more than 7,300 team members, represents over $8.2 billion in total investment, and has contributed more than $55 million to community organizations. Since opening, more than 8 million vehicles have rolled off its lines – a testament to the people behind its success.

25 Years Toyota Alabama

BEFORE
The land that’s now home to Toyota Alabama was once defined by rows of cotton and soybean, across a quiet stretch of North Huntsville. By the late 1990s, local leaders began to see new potential in the area, transforming it into what would become the North Huntsville Industrial Park, helping lay the groundwork for future growth.

DECISION & ARRIVAL
That vision became reality in 2001, when Toyota broke ground on Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama with an initial $220 million investment. The new facility would assemble V8 engines for the Toyota Tundra, marking Toyota’s third engine plant in the United States and the first outside Japan to produce the V8. The decision brought more than 350 direct jobs, along with hundreds of additional opportunities across the region.

TODAY
Today, Toyota Alabama has grown into a $1.7 billion facility, supporting seven of the nine Toyota vehicles assembled in North America. With innovations like a 30-megawatt solar energy system and a new addition to its offering lineup, differentials, Toyota Alabama continues to evolve. Its impact extends far beyond its products; over the past 25 years, more than $24 million has been invested in local nonprofits and community organizations, including nearly $11 million to Huntsville City Schools through Toyota USA Foundation’s Driving Possibilities.

Across these five communities, Toyota’s story is one of partnership and lasting impact. What started decades ago continues to shape lives today, proving that legacy is built together.