Toyota broke ground Tuesday on the expansion that will support increased V6 engine production at its Huntsville, Ala., engine plant. Community guests joined Toyota to celebrate the occasion.
“We are so pleased to see our plant grow yet again,” said Jim Bolte, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama, Inc. (TMMAL). “Not only are we adding more jobs and investing in the local economy, we’re also playing a role in Toyota’s philosophy to build more engines where we sell them. I can’t wait to see more Toyota vehicles with our engines here in our community.”
The $80 million investment marks the fourth expansion for TMMAL since the facility started production in 2003. Total plant investment is expected to reach more than $700 million once the project is completed.
The new facility will increase capacity by 216,000 engines each year, bringing total V6 annual capacity to 362,000. Approximately 125 new jobs will be created, increasing employment nearly 10 percent to 1,150. The increased production will begin in March 2014.
Construction will begin in October on the new 300,000 sq. ft. building that will be added to the southeast corner of the existing facility in North Huntsville Industrial Park. Total square footage at TMMAL will exceed 1.2 million once the facility is completed.
Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield, U.S. Congressman Mo Brooks, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Madison County Commissioner Mike Gillespie participated in the ceremonial groundbreaking with Bolte and TMMAL Maintenance Team Leader Vance Newton.
“The support Toyota receives from our community partners and local government officials has allowed our plant to grow and thrive for more than 10 years,” said Bolte. “Most importantly, we thank our team members for their commitment and hard work. They are Toyota’s greatest assets, and we are lucky to have each and every one of them on our team.”
TMMAL currently assembles 4-cylinder, V6 and V8 engines for eight of 12 Toyota North American built vehicles. TMMAL is the only Toyota plant globally to produce these three types of engines in one facility.