Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (TMMTX) offically launched production of the Tacoma pickup truck with a ceremony at the San Antonio factory on Friday though output actually began last month.
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Tacoma assembly was transferred to Texas after Toyota closed its Fremont, California, factory after General Motors withdrew from that venture. The plant has since been sold to electric car maker Tesla. California Corolla production was moved to Canada and Japan.
The US$100m expenditure to add the Tacoma alongside the larger Tundra truck line boosts total investment in the San Antonio plant to $1.4bn, according to the automaker. Tacoma production has added 1,000 jobs, taking the total to 2,800.
“The San Antonio plant has shown a great deal of resilience during the recession and is fully prepared to ramp-up Tacoma production,” said Chris Nielsen, TMMTX president. “By building Tacoma in Texas, we are able to consolidate pickup truck production in the United States under one roof, allowing us to fully utilise the plant’s capacity.”
During the economic downturn, TMMTX was one of several Toyota plants impacted by poor sales. However, it retained its workforce instead of laying off (using the time for training, plant maintenance and even sending some out to work on community projects).
