Production to reach 160,000 units per year in the Tacoma truck line. The $150 million expansion will add 400 new jobs to Tijuana´s automotive industry.
This week Mike Bafan, President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Baja California, announced the firm will undergo a $150 million expansion to boost its Tacoma production by more than 60,000 units annually.
The announcement took place at Toyota´s plant in Tijuana in front of industry leaders, city and state government representatives, and TMMBC´s staff.
“Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Baja California (TMMBC) currently produces more than 100,000 Tacomas and over 200 truck beds yearly,” Bafan said. “With our expanded capacity, we will reach 160,000 units by the end of 2017 or early 2018. We are clearly in the big leagues of Toyota´s plants worldwide.”
He went on to add that, during the two years he has headed up the operation, it has seen steady growth made possible by its workforce of 1,200 employees.
“This was Toyota´s first manufacturing operation in Mexico when they started with a 450-person team in 2004,” said Francisco Vega, governor of Baja California. “Today, this announcement is proof that Baja California´s manufacturing industry is moving ahead.”
Governor Vega added that expansions and new investment in the state account for a 48 percent increase in industrial production in Baja California over last year.
In a previous communication Jim Lentz, Executive Director of Toyota Motor North America noted, “Pickup demand has grown exponentially. By taking advantage of the availability and experience of our manufacturing plants; we can become more flexible and better able to adapt to the needs of the market in a just-in-time manner. We appreciate the effort of our associates in San Antonio and Baja California who, besides continuing to deliver more volume for our clients and distributors, also produce the highest quality pickup trucks day in and day out.”
