Toyota recently announced that it built more than 1.93 million vehicles at its North American assembly plants in 2018. Positive economic factors such as low fuel prices, continued stability in the overall economy, and strong customer demand for trucks and sport-utility vehicles were all key drivers for 2018 production. Since 1986, Toyota's total vehicle production in North America has totaled more than 38 million.
"Our ongoing success is due to the hard work and dedication of team members at our 14 manufacturing plants in North America," said Chris Reynolds, chief administrative officer of manufacturing and corporate resources at Toyota Motor North America.
Toyota's 15th manufacturing plant, a joint venture with Mazda, is scheduled to open in Huntsville, Alabama, in 2021. The plant will have a capacity of 300,000 and employ 4,000 people.
In 2018, five of the company's 10 U.S. manufacturing plants continued to roll out a $373.8 million hybrid powertrain investment announced in 2017. The investment also included the implementation of the company's new global architecture at its Alabama plant.
Toyota currently produces 13 vehicle models in North America — Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, RAV4, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra, Lexus RX 350, Lexus ES 350, Yaris and Yaris iA — while directly employing more than 47,000 people.
For more information, visit www.toyota.com.