Ten Millionth Toyota Built in North America Rolls Off Production Line Today
ERLANGER, Ky., July 29 Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, the headquarters of Toyota's manufacturing operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, today celebrated the ten millionth vehicle manufactured in North America at a ceremony at its Erlanger, Ky. facility. This milestone celebrates 16 years of manufacturing in the US and Canada and a $13 billion investment by Toyota in North American operations. North America today is the centerpiece of the company's growth strategy, allowing Toyota to secure its place as one of the world's leading automotive manufacturers.
"We thank the millions of customers who rate Toyota as the most satisfying automobile ownership experience in North America, our employees, suppliers and dealers who have supported us in reaching this milestone, and the communities that have welcomed us as their partners," said Dr. Shoichiro Toyoda, honorary chairman, Toyota Motor Corporation.
"We've just produced our ten millionth vehicle in North America, thanks to some of the finest workers in the world, hundreds of excellent North American suppliers and our outstanding dealers. Collectively, they are the reasons that more Toyota vehicles are sold in North America than anywhere else in the world, including Japan," Dr. Toyoda continued.
Currently, more than 10 and a half million North American households own at least one Toyota or Lexus vehicle.
Toyota first began conducting business in North America in 1957 and started North American vehicle manufacturing operations in 1986. The company's impact in the United States and Canada is significant:
* Toyota's North American operations directly provide more than 32,000 good and stable jobs in the US, Canada and now Mexico. When dealers and suppliers are included, Toyota is directly responsible for more than 175,000 total jobs in North America.
* In July, Toyota reported its best-ever first-half year sales in both the United States and Canada. Calendar-year-to-date sales of 878,354 in the United States set a 45-year record, while CYTD sales of 78,062 in Canada set a 37-year record.
* As of June 2002, Toyota had a market share of 9.0 percent in the US and 8.6 percent in Canada. Lexus share was 1.4 percent in the US and 0.4 percent in Canada.
* Toyota recently celebrated manufacturing expansion into Mexico with the June groundbreaking of a new manufacturing plant in Baja California, which is scheduled to open in 2004.
* Toyota has contributed more than $175 million in corporate giving back to communities since it first began doing business in North America 45 years ago. In addition to dollars given throughout Toyota's history in North America, thousands of Toyota employees have contributed hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours in their communities.
* Toyota builds 9 vehicles in North America: Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Matrix, Sequoia, Sienna, Solara, Tacoma and Tundra. The Lexus RX300 will be produced in North America beginning in the fall of 2003.
Throughout the 45 years of conducting business in North America, Toyota has earned a long-standing reputation for producing vehicles that are high in quality, reliability and durability. In 2002, Toyota and Lexus models led nine of the sixteen segments in the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study. In addition, Toyota's North American plants have earned more J.D. Power and Associates plant quality awards (21) than any other auto maker since the company began recognizing plants in 1990.
"We believe that our success in North America and around the world is the result of our focus on continuous improvement," Dr. Toyoda continued. "We listen to our team members' suggestions to help us build a better car, and we listen closely to what our customers say they want in a car and truck, striving continuously to improve the vehicles they buy."
As part of the 10 millionth vehicle celebration, Toyota announced a $1 million college scholarship fund for children of team members and presented a total of 26 Sienna minivans to charitable organizations in communities where Toyota has major operations.
North American Manufacturing Locations
Toyota currently has four vehicle assembly plants and five parts and materials plants in North America, including:
Vehicles New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) Fremont, Calif. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Inc. (TMMC), Cambridge, Ontario Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc. (TMMI), Princeton, Ind. Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky (TMMK), Georgetown, Ky. Parts and Materials Bodine Aluminum, Inc., St. Louis and Troy, Mo. Canadian Autoparts Toyota, Inc. (CAPTIN), Delta, British Columbia TABC, Inc., Long Beach, Calif. Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama, Inc. (TMMAL), Huntsville, Ala.; opening in 2003
Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California (TMMBC), Baja California, Mexico; opening in 2004 Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc. (TMMWV), Buffalo, W.Va.
