(April 15, 2015) PLANO, Texas — Toyota today announced plans to  invest approximately $1 billion to construct its newest North American manufacturing facility in the state of Guanajuato in Central Mexico to produce the Corolla.  This state-of-the-art plant will feature the latest Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) production engineering innovations, employ approximately 2,000 people and have the capacity to produce 200,000 units annually. 
 
Once Corolla production begins in Mexico in 2019, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. (TMMC) will transform its Cambridge, Ontario North Plant to switch from producing Corollas to mid-sized, higher-value vehicles, marking Toyota’s first major reinvestment in the plant since it opened in 1997. Toyota will also make significant new investments over several years in TMMC’s assembly plants in Cambridge and Woodstock, Ontario to implement TNGA modifications, maintaining the facilities’ importance as a strategic manufacturing hub.
 
“We are thrilled to invest further in North America so we can better meet the needs of our customers for decades to come,” said Jim Lentz, chief executive officer of Toyota North America.

“This strategic re-thinking of how and where we build our products will create new opportunities for our company, our business partners and our team members across the region.
 
Lentz added: “Our next-generation production facility in Mexico will be a model for the future of global manufacturing and set a new standard for innovation and excellence.  Transforming our Canadian vehicle assembly plants is an equally important part of our strategic plan to position the North America region for sustainable long-term growth.”
 
TNGA boosts vehicle quality and appeal while achieving cost savings through production engineering innovations, building more models on common platforms, the intelligent use of common parts and more fully leveraging Toyota’s supply chain.  And, by focusing on the joint development of vehicle powertrains and platforms, TNGA enables Toyota to produce vehicles with a lower center of gravity and lighter, more compact components, delivering to customers enhanced driving performance, greater fuel efficiency, exceptional visibility, more attractive styling and high-quality collision performance.