Toyota Announces Second Expansion of Baja California Plant

TIJUANA, Baja California (August 15, 2003) –Toyota today announced an expansion of its pickup truck plant currently under construction in Mexico. The company will add 10,000 units of Tacoma capacity, 240 jobs, and will begin production six months earlier than previously announced. Additionally, the automaker announced plans to set up an on-site supplier park, employing 80 people.

Mexico President Vicente Fox and many federal, state and local officials attended the press conference held at the plant site.

“Mexico is becoming increasingly vital to both the North American and global economies,” said Toshiaki “Tag” Taguchi, president & CEO of Toyota Motor North America, Inc.

“We are committed to this country and look forward to a long, mutually beneficial relationship with the Baja California community.”

The 10,000-unit increase brings the total annual capacity of Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California (TMMBC) to 30,000 Tacoma pickup trucks and 180,000 truck beds.
The truck beds will be used in production both at TMMBC and at New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) - a joint venture of Toyota and General Motors in Fremont, California.

Additionally, the automaker will increase the number of jobs at the plant from 460 to 700. Production of Tacoma pickups at the plant will begin approximately six months earlier than the original plans, at the end of 2004.

“None of this could have been possible without the cooperation of the local, state, and federal officials, and the dedication and teamwork of our construction crews here in Baja California,” said Taguchi.

“This supplier park is a new concept for Toyota in North America. We are optimistic about the advantages this system will provide Toyota and our suppliers.”

The supplier park, located on-site, will group a number of suppliers together for sub- assembly and sequencing of parts for TMMBC. It will employ 80 people and will begin operations in conjunction with the start-up of TMMBC in 2004. The supplier park will be run by CAMEX, which is a Mexican subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho America, a logistical and service provider to Toyota.

By 2006, Toyota will have capacity to build 1.66 million cars and trucks a year and 1.29 million engines in North America. Toyota currently employs some 34,000 people throughout North America. The company's direct investment is nearly $14 billion with annual parts, materials, goods and services purchased from North American suppliers totaling nearly $20 billion. Toyota's North American-produced vehicles include the Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Matrix, Sienna, Solara, Sequoia, Tacoma and Tundra. Beginning September 2003, the Lexus RX 330 will be produced at the automaker's plant in Ontario, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada.