Toyota to Build Trucks in Texas

       New Plant in San Antonio to Manufacture Full-Size Tundra Pick-up

    SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 5 -- Toyota has
announced that it has chosen a 2000-acre site in San Antonio to build its
sixth North American vehicle assembly plant.
    Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc. will build approximately 150,000
Tundra full size trucks annually, beginning in 2006.  Production at the San
Antonio plant will supplement the Tundra production at Toyota Motor
Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc. (TMMI), which is currently the exclusive
manufacturer of this model.
    The new plant will represent an $800 million investment by Toyota and is
expected to bring approximately 2,000 new jobs to Texas and indirectly create
work for many more.  Operations at the plant will include stamping, body weld,
plastics, paint, and assembly.
    Governor Rick Perry, speaking at a news conference held at the Westin
Riverwalk in San Antonio, welcomed Toyota's decision to set up operations in
Texas.
    "This new plant will mean jobs, paychecks and a higher standard of living
for thousands of Texans while helping Texas to build a stronger, more diverse
economy," said Governor Perry.  "And I believe it will the beginning of a new
economic boom in Texas because companies looking to prosper in the 21st
century will find no better home than Texas."
    Toyota Senior Vice President, Dennis Cuneo joined Governor Perry at the
announcement and helped deliver the good news.
    "Toyota appreciates the opportunity to do business in the state of Texas,"
said Cuneo.
    "We know we will find workers of the highest caliber here who have the
skills, the intelligence, and the enthusiasm to become an important part of
the North American Toyota team.  We are also excited to be a part of the San
Antonio community, and we hope to contribute as a good corporate citizen."
    Additionally, Cuneo recognized the contributions of the team who worked on
this project. "We would like to thank all of the organizations who have helped
to bring Toyota to Texas, from the state and local officials to the private
sector.  This has really been a team effort and we appreciate all of your hard
work.  The partnership of all of these groups was instrumental to our
decision, including the creation of a new rail district to provide competitive
rail access for our plant."
    Toyota Motor Corporation President, Fujio Cho and Governor Perry are
slated to join a celebration thanking the team who helped to bring Toyota to
San Antonio on Monday, Feb. 10 at the Institute of Texan Cultures in San
Antonio.
    Site preparation and construction for the plant is slated to begin later
this year.  A majority of the hiring will take place in 2005, closer to start
of production.
    The plant is the latest addition to Toyota's increasing manufacturing
investment in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.  By 2006, the automaker will have
capacity to build 1.65 million cars and trucks a year, and 1.16 million
engines.
    Toyota currently has four vehicle assembly plants in North America.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky manufactures the Camry, Avalon, and,
beginning this summer, Camry Solara.  TMMI, located in Princeton Ind., builds
the Tundra, Sequoia, and Sienna.  New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc., a
joint venture with General Motors, located in Fremont, Calif., manufactures
the Toyota Corolla and Tacoma, Pontiac Vibe, and the Toyota Voltz (a right-
hand drive version of the Vibe for export to Japan).  Toyota Motor
Manufacturing Canada, Inc., in Cambridge, Ontario manufactures the Toyota
Corolla, Matrix, and beginning in September the Lexus RX 330.
    Beginning in 2005, Toyota will begin assembly of Tacoma pick-up trucks at
its new plant in Baja California, Mexico.  Additionally, this plant will build
Tacoma truck beds to be shipped to California for vehicle production at NUMMI.
    Additionally, Toyota has three engine plants in North America.  Toyota
Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc. and Toyota Motor Manufacturing,
Kentucky, Inc. both produce four-cylinder and V6 engines.  Also, its plant in
Ontario, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Inc., assembles four-cylinder
engines.  Later this year, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama, Inc. will
begin manufacturing V8 engines for the Tundra built at TMMI.
    By 2006, Toyota will employ some 35,000 people throughout North America.
With today's announcement, the company's direct investment tops $14 billion
with annual parts and materials purchases from North American suppliers
totaling over $11 billion.

    Visit Toyota's Website at http://www.toyota.com/texas or Toyota's on-line
newsroom: pressroom.toyota.com .