Several Automotive Suppliers to Locate At Toyota's San Antonio Site Bringing 1,000 New Jobs

March 25, 2004 -- San Antonio -- Texas Governor Rick Perry joined Toyota officials today to announce that several automotive suppliers will set up operations on the site of the new Toyota plant in San Antonio.

The supplier companies will add 1,000 jobs to the 2,000 already announced by Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (TMMTX). Supplier investment will be at least $100 million for buildings and equipment.

"Today's announcement is great news, not just for San Antonio but for all of Texas," Gov. Perry said. "Toyota and its suppliers are bringing thousands of new jobs to Texas and investing millions in our economy. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Toyota and its suppliers as we create greater opportunity and prosperity for all Texans," he said.

While Toyota has not yet released the names of specific supplier companies, at least ten parts suppliers, plus several service companies will locate at the plant site on Applewhite Road. In addition, many of the parts suppliers will be joint venture companies formed with minority partners, several of which will be from the local area.

This will be the first time Toyota or any other automaker has had so many automotive suppliers actually on plant property, according to Hidehiko Tajima, president of TMMTX.

"Toyota considers its suppliers true business partners who are equally responsible for providing superb quality to our customers," said Tajima. "We appreciate these suppliers' willingness to locate operations in San Antonio."

In February 2003, Toyota announced that it had chosen a 2000-acre site in San Antonio to build approximately 150,000 Tundra full size trucks annually, beginning in 2006. The new plant will represent an $800 million investment by Toyota and is expected to bring 2,000 new jobs to Texas and indirectly create work for many more.