Toyota's US powertrain plant reaches milestone.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc., (TMMWV) and its 1,300 team members celebrated production of the plant’s 10 millionth powertrain unit at a ceremony this afternoon with guests from the state’s business and civic community.  Powertrain units include engines and automatic transmissions.

Facts about TMMWV and its 10 millionth powertrain:


TMMWV is the first plant outside of Japan to produce 10 million units.
Every 20 seconds a Toyota vehicle rolls off a North American assembly line with a TMMWV powertrain product.
Total output of all engines produced at TMMWV tops 1 billion horsepower.  

“From the very beginning, our mission was to support Toyota’s growing North America operations by building high-quality powertrains for our customers,” said TMMWV President Yogi Suzuki.  “Our team members’ focus on quality, safety and their commitment to continuous improvement is second-to-none.  West Virginia has been and will continue to be an important part of Toyota’s efforts to localize production in North America.”

TMMWV, which assembles four-cylinder and V6 engines and 6-speed automatic transmissions for nine of 12 North American-produced vehicles, recently completed its seventh major expansion earlier this year resulting in 80 new jobs.  Production began in 1998.  Cumulative investment at the plant is $1.3 billion and annual capacity is more than 650,000 engines and more than 520,000 automatic transmissions.

Comments from elected officials:

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin:
“Every day TMMWV team members perform at their best, building high-quality engines and transmissions in the small, tight-knit community of Buffalo.  I’m thankful for their commitment to quality craftsmanship because, over the years, these individuals have built a world-class reputation.  I also want to thank Dr. Toyoda and the entire TMMWV leadership for believing in West Virginia and our exceptional workforce. Congratulations to all on your 10 millionth unit!”

Senator Jay Rockefeller:
“Twenty years ago, the idea of Toyota in West Virginia was just a hope and a dream. Because of the incredible team members, this community, its families and the company that showed so much faith in them, we’re celebrating a milestone: Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia’s 10 millionth unit. Today represents more than just the units produced; it represents a better life for families and new growth for the Buffalo community and our state. From the very beginning, I pledged to Toyota officials that they’d never be disappointed in West Virginia. Each and every day, they see that promise kept. Bringing Toyota to West Virginia is truly one of the proudest moments of my career, and I’m simply thrilled at this historic milestone.”

Senator Joe Manchin:
“As this automotive leader learned more than 15 years ago, there is not a more loyal, well-trained and quality-driven workforce anywhere else in the world.  Today’s celebration is more proof of that.   As we gather today to highlight Toyota’s steadfast commitment to West Virginia, to its team members, to ‘The Toyota Way’ of manufacturing and to the consumers it serves with quality products, I congratulate Toyota and its devoted team members.  I look forward to celebrating many more of these historic milestones with this great company.  With corporate partners like Toyota, we are truly building a brighter future for West Virginia.”

Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito:
“Since 1996, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc., has been expanding, making our state proud and providing the country with high quality automatic transmissions, gears and engines.  Employing 1,300 West Virginians, I want to thank Toyota for making a home in the state that I love.  I also want to congratulate everyone who made the milestone of producing the 10 millionth powertrain unit possible.  Keep growing. Keep building. And keep powering our nation’s automobiles.”

Donation to local schools
To commemorate today’s celebration, TMMWV donated $32,500 to 13 area schools in Putnam, Mason, Cabell and Kanawha counties to enhance TMMWV’s and Bridgemont Community and Technical College’s Advanced Manufacturing Technician program (AMT), created last summer.  The AMT program combines a cutting-edge curriculum, paid work experience, and instruction in highly sought after business principles and best practices from a world-class manufacturer that results in a two-year associate’s degree from Bridgemont.

Additionally, TMMWV last week donated $5,000 to Buffalo High School for last Saturday’s Arbor Day activities at the school where students, teachers and TMMWV team members cleared a three acre tract of land for their Agriculture Education program.

Since 1996, TMMWV has donated nearly $6.5 million to organizations throughout the state.