Toyota to invest $1.33 billion in Kentucky plant

A$1.33 billion investment 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 US 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 US over the next 5 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 everbetter 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,” Wil James, president, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, said. “This major overhaul will enable the plant to stay flexible and competitive, further cementing our presence in Kentucky,” he said.

Toyota Kentucky is the automaker’s largest plant in the world, employing 8,200 team members. This represents an alltime 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 onethird – 11 million – of all Toyota vehicles manufactured in North America since 1986.