Toyota in Cambridge Creates 700 New Jobs

Monday September 16, 11:01 am ET

CAMBRIDGE, Ontario, Sept. 16 -- Growing demand for the redesigned Corolla and the all-new Matrix, as well as preparations to build the first Lexus outside of Japan, will translate into 700 new jobs at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. (TMMC). Today's announcement means TMMC employment will climb to 3,900 by September next year, from the current 3,200. The majority of new hires will be in production, but hiring will occur in maintenance and engineering areas as well. Annual production capacity was already scheduled to rise from 200,000 to 220,000 to accommodate Lexus. However, burgeoning demand for Corolla and Matrix will result in additional adjustments to Cambridge's capacity by a further 30,000 units, to 250,000 annually.

"This is an exciting and positive time for our company," says TMMC President Ray Tanguay. "We have to manage increased customer demand for Corolla and Matrix beyond our initial expectations, as well as get ready for Lexus next year. We knew we had winners on our hands with the new models so we are delighted with the increased demand."

Lexus will have its own separate welding and paint shops with state-of-the art technology, including a waterborne paint technology system that is more environmentally friendly. Until now, one welding shop and one paint shop have served all of the plant's production requirements, but the added shops mean more people will be needed. When Lexus is added, the only shops that will be shared among products will be stamping and plastics.

TMMC Chairman Atsushi Niimi, who is also President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America Inc. (TMMNA), the headquarters for Toyota's North American manufacturing operations, says that TMMC's consistently high quality is built on a strong foundation of teamwork and continuous improvement. The quality and productivity of TMMC has always been high," said Mr. Niimi. "Canadian workers have proven over and over again that they can manufacture products of the highest standards."

The Lexus project has also attracted several companies to southern Ontario to supply the Toyota plant with various parts, components and products, including Futaba Industries in Stratford, TG Minto in Palmerston, and Trim Masters in Elmira. As well, other local suppliers have expanded to service the growing Toyota account.

TMMC hires new production team members under contract until a long-term commitment can be made. The company reviews market conditions on an ongoing basis and adjusts its permanent workforce accordingly. Recently, 300 contracts were moved to permanent status.

Production team members can earn more than $28 an hour at full job rate.

"At TMMC, we hire team members, not merely employees," says Tanguay. "The success TMMC and its team members have achieved is the result of a shared commitment to teamwork, quality products and putting customers first."

In anticipation of the hiring, TMMC has arranged for applications to be available at Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) offices in Kitchener, Cambridge, Brantford and Guelph. Online applications are also available at http://www.toyota.ca .

TMMC has been manufacturing vehicles in Cambridge, Ontario since November of 1988. Investment in the Cambridge plant, which will be more than three million square feet once the Lexus project is up and running, has reached more than CAD $3.1 billion to date.