Advancing the company’s commitment to vehicle electrification, Toyota announced today they will invest $383 million to support the production of four-cylinder engines, including options for hybrid electric vehicles at their U.S. manufacturing plants in Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee. The allocations include $222 million for Toyota Alabama to create a new four-cylinder production line with the capacity to produce engines for both combustion and hybrid electric powertrains.
These four plants build the heart of new Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
Furthermore, the Huntsville facility will expand its footprint by 114,000 square feet, which marks the plant’s sixth building expansion since 2003 and gives Toyota Alabama the capacity to build 900,000 engines annually, representing a nearly $1.5 billion total investment.
“Toyota has been a great partner for Alabama, and its expansion projects at the Huntsville engine plant have always played an important role in the world-class automaker’s growth plans,” said Governor Kay Ivey. “This significant new investment in Alabama will once again help power Toyota’s strategic efforts to prepare for the future in a fast-changing industry.”
Upon hearing the announcement, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle commented on not only Toyota’s investment but its commitment to workforce.
“Many people often ask what is the engine that drives Huntsville? I proudly tell them it is companies like Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama that drive Huntsville’s economy,” said Battle. “This latest announcement for TMMAL’s sixth expansion is another indication of the company’s confidence in our workforce and its commitment and investment into our community and future.”
Madison County Commission chair Dale Strong said, “Today’s announcement by Toyota is yet another example of their 20-year commitment to our region. Over those years they have become an important part of our community and a model of how public-private partnerships can work.”
Jason Puckett, president of Toyota Alabama said Alabama’s dedicated workforce continues to drive Toyota Alabama forward.
“Our team members’ commitment to building world-class engines is why Toyota has invested in our plant eight times, and why we continue to play a vital role Toyota’s electrified future,” he added.
Toyota Kentucky Georgetown will invest $16 million to expand flexibility of the four-cylinder engine line announced last fall, which will better position the plant to meet customer demand, representing a total investment of $8.5 billion.
Toyota Missouri’s $109 million investment in their Troy plant provides new equipment to build four-cylinder engine heads on three production lines. The plant has the capacity to build more than 3 million cylinder heads annually, representing a $564 million total investment in that plant.
Toyota Tennessee will use their $36 million investment to update equipment to build new four-cylinder engine blocks. The plant has the capacity to produce more than 2 million engine blocks annually and represents a $425 million total investment.
“Toyota customers want vehicles that are fuel-efficient and electrified,” said Norm Bafunno, senior vice president, Unit Manufacturing and Engineering, Toyota. “These investments allow us to meet customer needs and quickly respond to an evolving market. We are committed to investing in the U.S., and our teams are ready to take on this new challenge.”
Nationwide, Toyota announced last year, new investments totaling $5.1 billion into its U.S. manufacturing operations to support electrification efforts, demonstrating its commitment to building where it sells and supporting local economies.
Toyota’s U.S. plants produce half of the vehicles it sells in the U.S. Its North American assembly facilities produce more than three-quarters (76%) of the vehicles it sells in the U.S.
In addition to improvements to its manufacturing facilities, the company is investing in the workforce of the future.
With a goal of improving communities and getting young people excited and prepared for the job market, Toyota’s recently announced Driving Possibilities is a $110 million initiative to support PreK-12 education and beyond.
Despite continued investments in electric vehicles, Toyota currently has more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, with EV comprising more than a quarter of Toyota’s 2021 North American sales.
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