Princeton, Ind. (Jan. 24, 2017) — Toyota Indiana knows how to ring in the New Year!  The company will add 400 jobs at the plant in Princeton, investing $600 million to meet the strong and growing demand for the Highlander midsize SUV and modernize the entire plant.  The investment will be used for retooling, new equipment and advanced technologies to make the plant more competitive.  The project is scheduled to begin in fall 2019 and will add 40,000 Highlanders annually.
 
This expansion project is part of Toyota’s localization strategy to build vehicles where they are sold.  During the 2017 North American International Auto Show, Jim Lentz, chief executive officer, Toyota Motor North America, announced that the company would, “invest an additional $10 billion in the U.S. over the next five years. This investment will be used to make the existing plants even more competitive.”  
 
This announcement shows Toyota’s commitment to continued U.S. investment.  The Princeton, Indiana plant produced over 400,000 vehicles last year, the highest in its 20-year history.  “The Highlander has been a great vehicle for our plant and we are excited to deliver even more of them to our loyal customers,” said Millie Marshall, president of Toyota Indiana.  “This is a true testament to our team members and their dedication to producing quality vehicles.”
 
The third-generation Highlander made its debut at the Indiana plant in 2013 and has continually exceeded customer expectations.  The Highlander received the 2017 Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recognizing good crash protection across the board.