Toronto, Ontario — Toyota will be realigning its North American production in conjunction with its modernization project, which will see the automaker relocate vehicles to different factories next year in an attempt to make production lines and supply chains more efficient.
In an effort to “improve the operational speed, competitiveness and transformation at its North American vehicle assembly plants and common architectures,” Toyota will be transferring the production of certain vehicles to other North American plants, to be completed by 2022.
The company will move the Sequoia large SUV from Princeton, Ind. to San Antonio, Tex. by 2022, putting both of Toyota’s full-size body-on-frame vehicles—the Sequoia and the Tundra—in the same plant with a shared supply base. The shift will also allow the San Antonio assembly plant more capacity to turn out additional Tundras.
The Indiana plant will devote its remaining capacity and resources to the Highlander large crossover and Sienna minivan.
Toyota San Antonio will cease production of the Toyota Tacoma by late 2021 to make room for the transition. The Tacoma was added to the plant in 2010 during a period of small car popularity and falling truck demand. At the time, full-size Tundra sales were not enough to keep the plant afloat.
The moves are a part of Toyota’s massive manufacturing investment campaign in North America. The company is halfway through its five-year plan to spend US$13 billion on revitalizing and expanding its U.S., Canadian and Mexican plants, as well as building new capacity.
Last year the automaker completed a $1.4-billion investment in its Canadian facilities. Toyota assembles the RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus RX and Lexus RX Hybrid at plants in Ontario.
Starting in 2022, it will also be building the Lexus NX and Lexus NX Hybrid in Canada.
