Toyota Motor North America has announced a major investment to expand its production capacity in Texas. The company will spend $3.6 billion (around €3.3 billion) to add a new assembly line for the Tacoma pickup at its San Antonio plant. This move shifts production currently based in Mexico to the U.S. and will create new jobs in the region.
New Tacoma Assembly Line in San Antonio
The new assembly line will be built at Toyota’s San Antonio, Texas plant, which originally opened in 2003. This facility has been the sole production site for the Tundra and Sequoia large pickups.
- The Tacoma pickup is currently manufactured in Toyota’s plant in Baja California, Mexico.
- Toyota will move Tacoma production to Texas over the next four years.
- The new line expansion adds 2.5 million square feet (approx. 232,000 square meters) to the factory.
Impact on Plant Size and Jobs
With this investment, Toyota expects to double the San Antonio plant’s size by 2030. The expansion will also create about 2,000 new jobs, highlighting Toyota’s commitment to growing its U.S. manufacturing.
- Additional manufacturing facilities, like a new rear axle plant, will start production this fall.
- The investment supports Toyota’s aim to increase supply and meet demand for popular pickups.
What This Means for Toyota and Customers
Moving Tacoma production to Texas could improve logistics and reduce supply chain risks for Toyota. It also aligns with efforts to boost job creation in the U.S. However, final details on production capacity or possible changes to the Tacoma model have yet to be confirmed.
This investment underlines how significant pickup trucks remain for Toyota’s North American strategy. Customers may benefit from increased availability and potentially faster deliveries as production shifts closer to the core market.
Source: ithome.com