Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky will also be the first plant in North America to begin producing vehicles using Toyota New Global Architecture.
11 Apr 2017 | 3270 Views | By Autocar Professional Bureau
Toyota Motor Corporation has announced a massive $1.33 billion (Rs 8,212 crore) investment in its Kentucky, US plant. This investment makes it the highest of any automaker in Kentucky and the second-largest in the state’s history. Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) will also be the first plant in North ...
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Toyota Motor Corporation has announced a massive $1.33 billion (Rs 8,212 crore) investment in its Kentucky, US plant. This investment makes it the highest of any automaker in Kentucky and the second-largest in the state’s history. Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) will also be the first plant in North America to begin producing vehicles using Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA).
"This $1.33 billion investment is part of Toyota's plan to invest $10 billion dollars in the US over the next five years, on top of the nearly $22 billion Toyota has invested in the US over the past 60 years," said Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota Motor North America. "Toyota New Global Architecture is about exciting, ever-better vehicles for our customers as it will improve performance of all models, including increased fuel efficiency, more responsive handling, and a more stable, comfortable feel while driving."
TNGA represents a completely new strategy to the way the company designs, engineers, and manufactures its vehicles. In addition, it will shorten the development cycle for vehicle improvements and new vehicles. TNGA retains all of Toyota's traditional values of exceptional build quality and safety while injecting a fun driving experience with more responsive handling, regardless of the model. It also allows for a more flexible production environment, which will allow Toyota Kentucky to build ever-better cars, and respond quicker and more capably to customer demands down the road.
In addition to TNGA improvements, TMMK will undergo other makeovers that will, together, modernise and streamline the production process. That includes updating equipment and construction of an all-new paint shop.
"This is the largest investment in our plant's history and it speaks directly to the quality of our people and our products, as well as the partnerships we've forged in the local community and across the state," said Wil James, president, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK). "This major overhaul will enable the plant to stay flexible and competitive, further cementing our presence in Kentucky."
Bigger and better
Toyota Kentucky is the automaker's largest plant in the world, employing 8,200 team members. This represents an all-time high after recently adding over 700 people to support the upcoming launch of the 2018 Camry. Last year, TMMK produced nearly a quarter of the total number of Toyota vehicles produced in North America ― over 500,000. In total, the plant has produced more than one-third ― 11 million ― of all Toyota vehicles manufactured in North America since 1986.
The investment announcement adds to the $530 million investment the plant committed to in 2013, in part to support Lexus production. This brings Toyota Kentucky's investment in the last four years to approximately $1.86 billion.