(September 25, 2021) BUFFALO, W. Va. — As Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia (TMMWV) celebrates 25 years of producing engines and transmissions, a keen eye is looking down the road at the next quarter century and the excitement that exists as this plant contributes to Toyota’s mission of “Mobility for All.”
                            
“The future of this plant is unlimited,” said Srini Matam, president of TMMWV. “We are well positioned for the next 25 years as innovation and advanced manufacturing lead the way. We continue to build more efficient engines and transmissions, and we are deeply engaged in hybrid technologies and robotics.”

While supporting Toyota’s global mission of “bringing the joy and freedom of movement to all,” this plant in rural Buffalo, West Virginia, has grown and expanded in the past 25 years.

    •    The only Toyota plant in North America that makes both engines and transmissions – producing nearly 20 million powertrains since 1996.

    •    The only Toyota plant in North America to produce hybrid transaxles (for the Sienna and Highlander).

    •    The only Toyota plant worldwide that produces under one roof this stable of engines: ZR 1.8-liter 4-cylinder, GR V-G 3.5-liter and TNGA 2.5-liter 4 cylinder.

    •    Since its inception, TMMWV has had 11 expansions.



Coinciding with the 25-year anniversary celebration, The Toyota USA Foundation awarded a $189,000 grant to West Virginia University Institute of Technology. The grant supports a new after-school computer science program for middle schools in four West Virginia counties: Putnam, Kanawha, Fayette and Raleigh.

“This is an investment in our future,” said Carolyn Long, WVU Tech campus president. “The program will help young people see the opportunities ahead and give them the tools to pursue interests in robotics, cybersecurity, game development and more. We hope that this will be a model program that will expand throughout the state.”

Shamaya Morris, a production group leader at TMMWV, said it is a smart investment for the future.

“The first thing I tell people is that Toyota West Virginia is an advanced manufacturing facility. We program and set up robots to work around people and alleviate the burden of heavy lifting and repetitive motions. We make it safe for the team members on the floor. We use the brawn behind the robot but need the team member’s brain and cognitive abilities.”