Toyota Motor stated on Friday it will shift production of its mid-size Tacoma pick-up truck from the United States to Mexico as it modifies production around North America.
The automaker also stated it will put an end to the production of the Toyota Sequoia in Indiana by 2022 as that center focuses on mid-size SUVs and minivans.
Toyota will move production of the Sequoia in 2022 to Texas and that plant will put an end to the production of the Tacoma by 2021.
Toyota has been constructing Tacoma trucks at its Baja California plant in Mexico since 2004. Toyota’s Guanajuato plant started assembly of the Tacoma in the previous month.
Toyota stated its production capacity for the Tacoma in Mexico is going to be about 266,000 annually. In 2019, the automaker sold almost 249,000 Tacoma pickup trucks in the United States, increasing 1.3%.
Toyota stated the product moves were to enhance the operational speed, competitiveness as well as transformation at its North American vehicle assembly factories based on platforms and common architectures.
The new North American trade agreement recognized by the U.S. Senate on Thursday makes sure that automakers will still be able to build pickup trucks in Mexico and don’t face new punitive tariffs.
In February, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV stated it was reversing it’s preparations to shift production of heavy-duty trucks from Mexico to Michigan in 2020, freeing a Michigan facility for production of Jeeps.
Toyota stated on Friday that it finished a $1.3 billion modernization investment in its Indiana operations to bring 550 jobs. Toyota stated there would be no decrease in direct jobs at any of Toyota’s facilities throughout North America as a result of the vehicle moves.
