“The Hoosier State has made great strides towards providing the best possible business climate in the nation and having a multi-national company like Toyota consolidate operations to Indiana and produce one of our state’s first hybrid vehicles is evidence to the success we’ve achieved,” said Governor Mitch Daniels.

Established in Gibson County in 1996, Toyota’s Princeton plant was the second recognized wholly-owned Toyota plant in North America. TMMI currently employs 4,800 associates, of which 4,000 are Hoosiers, and builds the Highlander, Sequoia full-size SUV and Sienna minivan at its Princeton facility. The hiring of new manufacturing associates will coincide with facility and machinery upgrades.

“This project allows for better utilization of the Indiana plant, and will help Toyota capitalize on the improving North American and global auto market,” said Steve St. Angelo, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. “In addition to new jobs at the Indiana plant, this project will increase opportunities and jobs for our North American supply base.”

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, Inc. up to $2.7 million in conditional tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. Gibson County will consider additional incentives at the request of the Gibson County Economic Development Corporation.

“Toyota has been an integral part of the Princeton community, not only with the employment of our residents but also with the infusion of millions of dollars into the local community,” said Princeton Mayor Robert Hurst. “The company’s charitable donations have also been significant with more than $13 million given to local charities and schools and for that we are very grateful.”

Source: http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=52117

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana Inc. in Princeton is expected to return to 100 percent production today. The facility had been running at 30 percent capacity because of part shortages after the earthquake in Japan. The automaker announced plans last month to add 40 workers when full production resumed.

Because of an improved parts pipeline, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana announced on May 11 that full production would resume at the plant beginning on June 6. In May, the plant was running at approximately 30 percent capacity to conserve the parts supply.

With production returning to 100 percent, TMMI also announced the addition of 40 new Aerotek members to the production team. Aerotek provides variable staffing services to the Indiana plant.

Individuals interested applying for positions with Aerotek should visit its website at aerotekin.com.

TMMI has paid more than $48 million in local property taxes since 1997 and donated more than $13 million since 1996 to local community organizations that support youth and education, health and human services, civic and community and arts and culture.

Source: Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana & InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report  http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=48047

This is good news for the TriState area. Toyota has been hurt by supplies from the earthquake in Japan and has already implemented work changes to adjust to a slower production cycle. We can see that things are picking up at Toyota again. - RT

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana Inc. plans to add 40 workers at its Princeton plant when full production resumes in June. The facility is currently running at 30 percent capacity due to a shortage of parts following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March. The automaker says all models built in Princeton will return to 100 percent production June 6.

PRINCETON, IND. – Because of an improved parts pipeline, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana announced on May 11 that full production would resume at the plant beginning on June 6. In May, the plant was running at approximately 30 percent capacity to conserve the parts supply.

With production returning to 100 percent, TMMI also announced the addition of 40 new Aerotek members to the production team. Aerotek provides variable staffing services to the Indiana plant.

Individuals interested applying for positions with Aerotek should visit its website at aerotekin.com.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana began production in Princeton, Ind., in 1998. Today, TMMI employs about 4,100 team members from the Tri-State. Inside the 4-million-square-foot automotive manufacturing facility, team members produce the Sequoia full-size sport utility vehicle, Sienna minivan and Highlander midsize sport utility vehicle. Toyota’s total investment in TMMI is $3.7 billion.

TMMI has paid more than $48 million in local property taxes since 1997 and donated more than $13 million since 1996 to local community organizations that support youth and education, health and human services, civic and community and arts and culture.

Source: Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana & InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report

The number of cars made Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana's Princeton facility more than doubled in 2010. The company also reports a slight decrease in Camry production at Subaru Indiana Automotive Inc. in Lafayette.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA) announced today that the company’s assembly plants produced 1,456,887 vehicles in 2010, an 18 percent increase compared to 2009.

Toyota’s North American facilities assemble the Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, RAV4, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra, Venza and Lexus RX 350.

“The challenges presented by the economic downturn and our recalls made Toyota an even stronger company,” said Tetsuo Agata, president and COO of TEMA. “By retaining our team members and continually improving during the worst of times, we are well positioned for 2011 and beyond. We thank all team members and our hundreds of suppliers for their tireless efforts.”

In 2010, the following milestones, projects and initiatives were accomplished:
•The Canadian operation in September assembled its four-millionth vehicle.
•The Kentucky plant in July produced its eight-millionth engine.
•The Indiana plant successfully ramped up production of the Highlander and the all-new Sienna after a $450 million investment upgrade. Toyota’s total investment in Princeton is nearly $4 billion and total employment is 4,100.
•The Texas plant began production of the Tacoma, representing a $100 million investment and an additional 1,000 jobs. Toyota’s total investment in San Antonio is $1.4 billion and total employment is now 2,800.
•TEMA named four new American plant presidents and the Toyota Technical Center named three American chief engineers. This increased local leadership provides greater regional autonomy.

2010 Toyota North American Vehicle Production
Manufacturing Site Model 2009 2010
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) Avalon 27,513 40,155
Camry 225,524 253,098
Camry Hybrid 19,304 17,151
Venza 75,896 61,290
Total 348,237 371,694
New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc.
(NUMMI)* Corolla 172,888 63,319
Tacoma 67,435 27,495
Total 240,323 90,814
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Inc. (TMMC) Corolla 138,650 192,271
Matrix 38,538 33,809
RX 350 64,282 81,618
RAV4 78,077 151,031
Total 319,547 458,729
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc.
(TMMI) Highlander 17,503 86,527
Sequoia 18,376 24,685
Sienna 72,205 132,780
Total 108,084 243,992
Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California (TMMBC) Tacoma 42,696 53,829
Total 42,696 53,829
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc. (TMMTX)
Tundra 86,000 107,959
Tacoma 0 42,139
Total 86,000 150,098
Subaru Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA) Camry 87,926 87,731
Total 87,926 87,731
Total North American Vehicle Production* Grand Total 1,232,813 1,456,887

Toyota’s North American vehicle production – five year history:

Year Vehicle Production YOY Change
2010 1,456,887 18%
2009 1,232,813 (15%)
2008 1,454,958 (13%)
2007 1,671,009 8%
2006 1,553,790 (0.3%)

Toyota North American Engine Production
Manufacturing Site Engine 2010
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) 4-cylinder 272,833
V6 187,167
Total 460,000
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc. (TMMWV)* 4-cylinder 327,447
V6 236,431
Total 563,878
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama, Inc. (TMMAL)
V6 88,973
V8 133,803
Total 222,776
Total 2010 North American Engine Production 1,246,654

*TMMWV’s total automatic transmission production for 2010 was 284,543.

In addition to the above mentioned plants, Toyota subsidiary Bodine Aluminum, Inc., in Tennessee and Missouri, casts aluminum parts such as cylinder heads, intake manifolds, engine brackets and engine blocks. TABC, Inc. in Long Beach, California, manufactures truck beds, catalytic converters, stamped parts, coated substrates and steering columns. Canadian Autoparts Toyota, Inc. (CAPTIN) in Delta, British Columbia, produces aluminum wheels.

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) established operations in North America in 1957 and currently operates 14 manufacturing plants, including one under construction. There are more than 1,800 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships in North America which sold nearly two million vehicles in 2010. Toyota directly employs more than 35,000 in North America and its investment here is currently valued at more than $23 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design. Toyota's annual purchasing of parts, materials, goods and services from North American suppliers totals more than $25 billion. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.

Source: Toyota & Inside INdiana Business http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=45876

PRINCETON, IN - Sustaining 4,200 Tri-State jobs. NEWS 25 finds Toyota's Princeton plant held on to a number of workers during this strained economy, even when production was way down. 

This week the plant started making the company's Highlander mid-size SUV model and NEWS 25 gets a look inside to see if production is stepping up.   

$450 million went into preparing the plant for its newest model. Plant managers tell us, in the end, it will provide job security for plant workers.

It's been a year of slow go for workers at the plant.

"We were training all, most of the time because the plant wasn't running," says Ralph Goodwin, a Toyota employee.

Last year, Toyota pulled its Tundra pick-up out of Princeton, and left behind the Sienna mini-van, and Sequoia full-size SUV, but with the troubled economy, demand for the Sequoia went way down.

"When the gas prices went up, with the size of that vehicle, the sales went down," says Wil James, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing and Quality Control for the Princeton plant.

James tells us production at the plant also went down, but Toyota was determined not to lay anyone off.

Workers went into training mode, and prepared the plant for the Highlander mid-size SUV.

"We made a strategic decision to keep our employees even when we didn't have the volume to warrant them to be here. So I won't say that it would save jobs because we were saving the jobs anyway, but it did protect the jobs," says James.

James tells NEWS 25 bringing the Highlander here, means more job security for plant workers, since it's a popular model among car buyers.

It's now made next to the Sequoia, but three times as many Highlanders will be driven off the line.

"With the Highlander coming we were able to work a lot more. Everybody's excited because it’s something new," says Goodwin.

NEWS 25 learned the Princeton plant is now in the process of retooling another part of its plant to make way for a new Sienna mini-van design, rolling out at the beginning of next year.

Source: http://www.news25.us/Global/story.asp?S=11283879