HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- State and local officials joined Toyota officials and team members today to mark the production of the first 5.7 liter V8 engine at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama (TMMAL).
TMMAL employs 950 team members, has the capacity to produce 130,000 4.0 liter V6 engines, 120,000 4.7 liter V8 engines, 150,000 new 5.7 liter V8 engines annually. The total investment is $490 million.
TMMAL, which opened in 2003, supplies V8 engines for the Tundra full-size pickup and Sequoia full-size sport utility vehicle produced in Indiana. The plant also supplies V6 engines for Tacoma pickups produced in California and Mexico as well as the Tundra. The new 5.7 liter V8 engines will be used for the all new Tundra built in San Antonio, Texas and Princeton, Indiana.
Toyota Motor Corporation Senior Managing Director Shoji Ikawa congratulated team members and addressed the significance of the new engine. "This is the most powerful pickup truck engine Toyota has ever manufactured not only in North America, but in the world," Ikawa said. "The engine is the heart of any vehicle. Engine performance and quality are major considerations for today's truck customer. We know we can count on these team members to continue to deliver the high quality engines our customers expect from Toyota."
As part of the celebration, Toyota donated $50,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Huntsville for technology and reading programs and $50,000 to the National Children's Advocacy Center.
Kunihiko Ogura, president of TMMAL, expressed appreciation to the Huntsville community for their support.
"We are proud to be part of this wonderful community," Ogura said. "I am proud of the culture of this Toyota Alabama team. The power of teamwork is alive and well and will ensure a bright future for Toyota in Alabama."
Toyota established operations in North America in 1957. By 2008, Toyota will have the annual capacity to build about 2 million cars and trucks in 14 plants across North America. There are more than 1,700 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships in North America, which sell more than 2.8 million vehicles a year. Toyota directly employs nearly 40,000 people in North America. Toyota's investment in North America is valued at more than $17.6 billion.
Toyota produces 11 vehicles in North America, including the Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Matrix, Sienna, Solara, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra and the Lexus RX 350. By 2008, Toyota will have the annual capacity to build about 2 million cars and trucks, 1.44 million engines and 600,000 automatic transmissions in North America.