Toyota Motor Corp. is making a significant strategic shift by moving the production of its popular Tacoma midsize truck from Mexico to its San Antonio, Texas facility. This move is part of a substantial $3.6 billion investment to expand the Texas plant, which currently manufactures full-size pickups and SUVs. The expansion will involve adding a second production line and creating approximately 2,000 new jobs by 2030, increasing the plant's total workforce to around 6,000 team members.
This investment will nearly double the size of Toyota Texas by adding 2.5 million square feet, bringing Toyota's total investment in San Antonio to $8.3 billion since 2003. The expansion aims to boost overall output and enhance the plant's flexibility through advanced manufacturing technologies. The transition of Tacoma production from Toyota Motor Manufacturing Baja California (TMMBC) to the expanded San Antonio plant is expected to occur over an approximately four-year period. This strategic decision will result in the Tundra, Sequoia, and Tacoma all being assembled in Texas.
Ted Ogawa, President and CEO of TMNA, stated that this expansion deepens Toyota's commitment to American manufacturing and creates sustainable jobs, while also aligning with the company's broader North American operations. The move is also seen as a way to reduce tariff exposure on trucks, as noted by Bloomberg. Last year, the San Antonio plant produced over 197,000 Tundra and Sequoia vehicles. Texas Governor Greg Abbott lauded the investment, highlighting the state's workforce strength and business advantages, noting that the expansion is supported by the Texas Enterprise Fund and JETI program.
