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Toyota Announces More North American Expansion; Engine Capacity Will Approach One Million Units

16 January 1998

Toyota Announces More North American Expansion; Engine Capacity Will Approach One Million Units

    ERLANGER, Ky., Jan. 16 -- Toyota Motor Manufacturing North
America, Inc. (TMMNA) announced today that it will expand its West Virginia
engine plant to make V6 engines.  With the four cylinder production already
planned, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc.'s (TMMWV) total
annual capacity will now be 500,000 units.
    The 300,000-square-foot expansion will mean an additional $300 million
investment in the facility located in Buffalo, plus 300 new jobs.  Total
investment will be $700 million and employment will be 600.  TMMWV-built V6
3.0-liter engines will go in the Toyota Camry, Avalon, Sienna and Solara.  The
four cylinder plant, still under construction, will make 300,000 engines per
year for the Toyota Corolla.
    "With our North American vehicle production growing, there is need for
increased engine production as well," said TMMNA president Mikio Kitano.
"This expansion will mean that we will greatly reduce the need to import this
type of V6 engine from Japan.  Most will be produced locally."
    With the expansion, total Toyota North American engine capacity will near
one million units per year (Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. has
capacity to build 500,000 engines also.)
    Also, Toyota announced that its Bodine Aluminum plant in Troy, Mo. would
undergo an $80 million addition in order to supply TMMWV's V6 expansion.
Bodine manufactures cast engine parts, such as blocks and cylinder heads.
Bodine will add 100 new employees, bringing the total at the Troy facility to
650.  Total employment with Bodine's Troy and St. Louis plants will be
approximately 900.
    Toyota's North American vehicle production is expected to exceed one
million units next year.  In addition to the number one selling Camry, North
American-built products include the Corolla, Avalon and Sienna.  New additions
will be the Solara coupe this summer and the T100 pick-up truck late this
year.

SOURCE  Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc.