Toyota Announces 1998 Vehicle Production
29 December 1998
Toyota Sets Record For North American Production; Three Plants Produced 962,823 Vehicles in 1998 ERLANGER, Ky., Dec. 29 -- Through the diligent work of team
members at its three manufacturing plants in North America, Toyota produced
962,823 vehicles, more than any other Japan-based automaker.
"Our production success is all about teamwork and dedication; without the
best efforts of the nearly 15,000 individuals at our manufacturing sites, this
achievement could not have become a reality," said Teruyuki Minoura, president
and chief executive officer of Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America.
"This is added proof that we have the best work force in North America."
Toyota's North American production in 1998 increased by 15 percent over
1997's total of 838,069.
Of the three North American automotive plants, Toyota Motor Manufacturing,
Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) produced the most vehicles in 1998: 474,588. TMMK --
which employs about 7,800 people at its Georgetown, Ky., facility -- made
296,400 Camry sedans; 83,108 Avalons; and 95,080 Sienna minivans. Overall,
TMMK increased its production levels by 10 percent.
A major component of the overall 1998 increase was due to the fact that
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Inc. (TMMC) in Cambridge, Ontario, nearly
doubled its capacity from 1997. Along with a 1.8 million square-foot
expansion that was completed a year ago, TMMC -- which employs 2,600 team
members -- also added a new vehicle to its line in 1998: the Camry Solara
coupe. All told, TMMC produced 171,739 vehicles, 21,326 of which were the new
Camry Solara, and 150,413 of which were Corollas.
Rounding out the total 962,823 figure were two vehicles produced at New
United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI), a Toyota-General Motors joint
venture in Fremont, Calif. NUMMI manufactured 158,179 Corollas; and 158,317
Tacoma trucks. NUMMI also produced 45,213 Chevrolet Prizms.
NUMMI -- which has been operating as a joint venture between the two
automakers since 1984 -- employs 4,700 team members.
Also, engine production increased over the past year. TMMK produced
308,219 four-cylinder engines, and 228,227 V-6 engines, an overall increase of
19 percent over 1997. Meanwhile, TMMC manufactured 150,518 four-cylinder
engines in 1998, a 23 percent increase over the previous year.
Toyota also opened two new plants in the United States in 1998:
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc. (TMMI): In February, volume
production of the new Tundra full-size pick-up truck will be under way at the
Princeton, Ind., plant. Total production for 1999 is expected to reach 45,000
vehicles; that figure will jump to 100,000 in the year 2000. In addition,
TMMI will begin producing a full-size sport utility vehicle in late 2000.
Production capacity for that vehicle is expected to be 50,000 units.
TMMI represents a $1.2 billion investment, with employment eventually
expected to reach 2,300 team members.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc. (TMMWV): The Buffalo, W.
Va., facility -- which has been up-and-running since autumn -- will have the
capacity to produce 300,000 four-cylinder Corolla engines, and 200,000 V-6
engines for Camry, Avalon, Sienna and Camry Solara vehicles. In addition, an
expansion of the plant will take place in 2001, making room for production of
360,000 automatic transmissions.
TMMWV -- following the expansion -- is expected to employ 800 team
members. Total investment at the facility will be $900 million.
With the addition of the Tundra truck, 1999 production capacity is
expected to reach 1.2 million vehicles in North America. Meanwhile, total
investment for all of Toyota's operations in North America approached $10
billion in 1998, while employment rose to 27,215 people -- not including TMMI
and TMMWV projections.
Toyota is also on track to set a year-end sales record for the third
consecutive year, with over 1.3 million vehicles sold in the United States.
