Toyota Announces Tacoma Truck Assembly in Tijuana

MEXICO CITY and TIJUANA, Mexico, Sept. 20, 2002; Toyota today announced, during simultaneous press conferences in Mexico City and Tijuana, plans to assemble Tacoma pickup trucks at its new manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Baja California. Additionally, Toyota intends to invest $140 million (USD) in this plant, with a workforce of 460 team members when vehicle assembly begins in 2005. Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California (TMMBC) will have the capacity to build approximately 20,000 Tacoma pickup trucks annually. In addition, the plant will have the capacity to make approximately 170,000 Tacoma truck beds to be used at TMMBC and New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) -- a joint venture plant in Fremont, California, co-owned by Toyota and General Motors. TMMBC operations will include welding, paint and assembly.

"This announcement expands our commitment to Mexico and the production increase will allow us to meet the strong demand for Tacoma in the U.S.," said Atsushi Niimi, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America. "I would like to thank all the government officials, community leaders and many others for helping us grow in Mexico."

"The people of Baja California are proud to have a company like Toyota establish its roots in our region," said Baja California Governor Eugenio Elorduy Walther. "Today's expansion announcement furthers Toyota's commitment to our economy and our community."

Toyota ceremonially broke ground for TMMBC in June 2002. Since that time the automaker has secured an architectural/engineering firm and agreements for the site work contract are currently being finalized. The initial site preparation will begin this fall, followed by foundation and structural steel erection stretching into the first quarter of next year.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California, S. de R.L. de C.V. is the latest addition to Toyota's increasing manufacturing investment in North America. Today's announcement coupled with an announcement earlier this week at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Inc. (TMMC) in Cambridge, Ontario, gives the automaker capacity to build 1.5 million cars and trucks and 1.16 million engines a year in North America by 2005. At that time, Toyota will employ some 33,000 people throughout North America.

Toyota's North American-produced vehicles include the Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Matrix, Sienna, Solara, Sequoia, Tacoma and Tundra. Beginning in the fall of 2003, the Lexus RX300 will be produced at TMMC.

Toyota Motor Sales began selling vehicles in Mexico in April 2002, with the launch of the Camry. Corolla sales in Mexico began in June 2002.