Toyota in Tijuana: A Manufacturing Success Story
Part of our Tijuana Success Stories Series
From Modest Beginnings to Manufacturing Powerhouse
When Toyota first opened its doors in Tijuana back in October 2002, it was actually the company’s first automotive manufacturing plant in Mexico. Pretty amazing when you think about Toyota’s massive global presence, right? They started relatively modestly with a 350,000 sq ft facility on a 700-acre site, employing about 700 people. Their initial mission? Producing Tacoma pickup trucks and truck beds for the North American market, with a capacity of about 30,000 trucks and 180,000 truck beds annually.
Fast forward to today, and the transformation is remarkable. TMMBC now employs nearly 4,000 people – that’s more than five times their original workforce! And their production capacity has skyrocketed to 166,000 vehicles annually. Talk about growth!
Location, Location, Location
One thing I find fascinating about Toyota’s strategy in Tijuana is how perfectly they’ve leveraged our city’s unique geographical advantages. Being just 19 miles from San Diego and right near the US-Mexico border, they have the best of both worlds: access to the massive North American automotive market while benefiting from Mexico’s more favorable manufacturing costs.
This strategic location has enabled Toyota to create a clever integrated manufacturing network, where the Tijuana facility complements their Texas operations. When seasonal demand for different truck models fluctuates, they can adjust production accordingly between the two plants. Smart thinking, right?
Specialization for Maximum Efficiency
Here’s another interesting approach Toyota has taken: rather than trying to manufacture all variants of their vehicles in Tijuana, they’ve specialized in producing the V6 double-cab short-bed version of the Tacoma, which is the most popular configuration with North American consumers.
This specialization enables streamlined processes, reduces tooling requirements, and helps workers develop expertise in specific manufacturing tasks. The truck beds produced here are used for Tacoma production across Toyota’s entire manufacturing network. It’s a perfect example of how specialization can drive both quality and cost efficiency.
The People Behind the Success
What about the people who make it all happen? Employee reviews suggest that Toyota has created a positive work environment, which contributes to the facility’s productivity and quality standards. Former employees describe the workplace culture as collaborative, respectful, and friendly, values that align with Toyota’s global reputation for excellence.
One former quality associate even said: “It’s a good company to work for, I highly recommend it if you want to grow economically, the company has many advantages, your work is recognized…”
Toyota also offers competitive benefits that help attract and retain talent in our region, including primary medical coverage, dental insurance, competitive salaries, and rotating bonuses, which employees frequently cite as significant advantages.
Challenges Along the Way
Of course, no success story is without its challenges. Some employees mention the constant rotation of schedules as a drawback, noting that it can create issues with maintaining a work-life balance. Others have pointed out delays in training implementation and concerns that compensation growth does not always align with career advancement.
These are the kinds of challenges any large manufacturing operation faces, and Toyota’s continued growth suggests they’re addressing these issues effectively.
Economic Impact on Our Region
Since opening in 2002, Toyota has demonstrated a serious commitment to our region. Their $150 million expansion announced in 2016 is just one example of the substantial investments they’ve made to enhance production capacity at TMMBC.
Beyond the nearly 4,000 direct jobs they’ve created, Toyota supports numerous additional jobs throughout the supply chain and the surrounding community. Their presence has become a cornerstone of Tijuana’s manufacturing ecosystem.
What’s Next?
As automotive manufacturing continues to evolve with technological advances and changing market demands, TMMBC’s history of expansion and adaptation suggests it will remain an important component of Toyota’s global manufacturing footprint.
The Toyota success story in Tijuana offers valuable insights for other manufacturers considering similar international production strategies, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges of cross-border manufacturing operations.
This blog post is part of our ongoing series highlighting successful international businesses operating in Tijuana.
Website by: