Toyota cements it's place in the US with a $1.33 Billion plant investment in Kentucky.

• Investment for next generation vehicle production to drive the future of mobility
• The company’s largest plant, with more than 8,200 team members, solidifies its commitment to U.S. manufacturing

The future of automobile production is now. A $1.33 billion investment- the highest of any automaker in Kentucky and the second-largest in state history- will make Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) the first plant in North America to begin producing vehicles using Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA). 

Named the “Most American Made” car by Cars.com and the number one selling car in America for the past 15 years, the Camry, from the 2018 model year, will become the first Toyota vehicle made in the U.S. to fully incorporate the new vehicle development and production technology. 

“This $1.33 billion investment is part of Toyota’s plan to invest $10 billion dollars in the U.S. over the next five years, on top of the nearly $22 billion Toyota has invested in the U.S. 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, modernize 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.”

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.

Today’s 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. 

“Toyota’s decision to invest $1.3 billion in their Kentucky plant is further evidence that manufacturers are now confident that the economic climate has greatly improved under my administration and echoes the recent National Association of Manufacturers' 2017 Outlook Survey showing that 93% of manufacturers are now optimistic, which is an increase of 37% from just a few months ago." - President Donald J. Trump

“Toyota is a global icon. This $1.33 billion investment is further proof of their commitment to producing American-made cars that are among the finest quality found anywhere in the world,” said Governor Matt Bevin. “It also serves as a testament to the hard work and dedication of the plant’s current employees, and reaffirms Toyota’s confidence in the advantages of manufacturing in Kentucky. We are grateful that this significant investment further validates the fact that Kentucky is the engineering and manufacturing hub of excellence in America.”

"Today’s announcement is welcome news for Kentucky’s economy and our workforce,” Senator Mitch McConnell said. “For more than 30 years, Toyota has been committed to the Commonwealth, and today’s investment is further proof that the company maintains its pledge to grow our economy and solidify Kentucky as a world-class automotive state. I want to congratulate the Toyota team, especially its thousands of hard-working Kentuckians.”

A recent study by the Center for Automotive Research shows Toyota Kentucky supports nearly 30,000 jobs across the state (direct, indirect, and spin-off). TMMK employees live in 80 Kentucky counties, and currently Toyota has more than 100 suppliers located across the Commonwealth.

“Toyota is a great asset to Kentucky and the decision to continue its commitment to Kentucky jobs by investing in the Georgetown plant is wonderful news for the Commonwealth and a reflection of its confidence in Kentucky as a prime location for business growth and innovation,” said Senator Rand Paul.  “I congratulate Toyota on this new initiative, and look forward to continuing my efforts in Congress to promote business-friendly policies to ensure Kentucky continues to reap the benefits of economic growth and expansion as a result of these types of investments.”

“This major investment further solidifies Toyota’s long-term commitment to its Kentucky plant,” said Secretary Terry Gill of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. “Its ripple effects will add to Toyota’s three decades of transformative impact on our communities and for our residents across the Commonwealth. Additionally, this strengthens Kentucky’s status as a top state for auto manufacturing.”

A community effort

With the next chapter for the plant a bright one, Toyota is giving back to Scott County to help drive economic development efforts for the community. Three properties at Lanes Run Business Park, totaling nearly 22-acres, as well as $1 million for future land purchases, are being donated to further advance the vision for the area. Additionally, Toyota is committing $2 million over the next 10 years to Scott County United to go toward economic development initiatives that will benefit the community and region.

USA - Toyota Camry takes top spot in Cars.com American-Made Index with the US produced car utilising 75% US Content.

Toyota Camry takes top spot in Cars.com American-Made Index

The best-selling car in America for 14 consecutive years is on another streak that recognizes its American symbolism: another award from Cars.com for most American-made. For the second year in a row and sixth time overall, the Toyota Camry claims the top position on Cars.com’s American-Made Index.

 

The Cars.com American-Made Index rates vehicles built and bought in the U.S. Factors include the percentage of parts considered domestic under federal regulations, whether the car is assembled in the U.S. and U.S. sales.

 

Models with a domestic parts content rating below 75 percent are disqualified along with models built exclusively outside the U.S. or models soon to be discontinued without a U.S.-built successor. According to NHTSA, the U.S.-sold domestic content for Camry is 75 percent.

 

The Camry is assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) in Georgetown, Ky., and more than 270 supplier locations in the United States provide content for the current generation. TMMK is Toyota’s largest vehicle manufacturing plant in the world with annual capacity to produce 550,000 vehicles and 600,000 engines.

 

“This recognition from Cars.com is a tribute to Toyota employees, not only those at the plant who build the Camry, but the broader Toyota team who design, engineer, market and finance the vehicle in the United States,” said Bob Carter, Toyota senior vice president of automotive operations. 

“We also support local suppliers and economies, and we have invested more than $6 billion into our Kentucky operations alone, which is growing with our new production engineering campus under construction there.”

 

Toyota’s Georgetown footprint covers more than 1,300 acres just north of Lexington, Ky., and the facility is 8.1 million sq. ft., a space equal to 169 football fields under one roof. In addition to Camry and Camry Hybrid, TMMK assembles the Avalon, Avalon Hybrid and Lexus ES 350, which began production last fall, the first time a Lexus vehicle has been produced in the U.S. 

The plant also produces axles, steering components, machined blocks, cylinder heads, crankshafts, camshafts and rods and axle assemblies. Since vehicle production began in 1988, more than 10 million vehicles have rolled off the Georgetown assembly line where full-time employment is nearly 8,000.

 

Toyota has a second vehicle on the Cars.com American-Made Index: the Sienna, assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana in Princeton, ranks third. The Indiana plant celebrated its 20^th anniversary in May.

 

In addition to manufacturing, a significant amount of design and engineering of both Camry and Sienna took place in the United States at Calty Design Research, Inc. and Toyota Technical Center (TTC), respectively. 

Calty is headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif., with a production design studio in Ann Arbor, Mich., and TTC is based in York Township, Mich. Both Camry and Sienna have American chief engineers.

 

Toyota has five assembly plants in the United States, which produced 1.34 million vehicles in 2015, and another five manufacturing facilities that produce vehicle engines, parts and components. Toyota annually purchases $35.3 billion of parts/components and goods and services in the United States.

 

Toyota has nearly 35,000 direct employees in the U.S., which includes nearly 25,000 in manufacturing.