Toyota Motor Sales announced this week that it will be investing $531 million into the Toyota Texas plant, located in San Antonio, Texas. This expands the plant’s footprint and will require the hiring of more than 400 new workers.
This plant exclusively builds the Toyota Tundra and Sequoia.
The Toyota Texas expansion
The $531-million investment feeds into a new on-site 500,000-square-foot facility, which will be dedicated to drivetrain parts production. Over the years, Toyota’s investment in the plant has grown to more than $4.7 billion.
In addition to showing Toyota’s commitment to reinvesting profits in it’s U.S. operations, this expansion, reinforces the plant’s flexibility with advanced manufacturing technologies.
“Job stability, growth and competitive pay are all reasons I found a passion for assembling trucks at Toyota,” said Christopher Rivera, Toyota Texas team leader. “During my 17-year career with Toyota, I have seen firsthand Toyota’s commitment to our team. It is exciting to help bring new capabilities to our plant.”
Last year, Toyota Texas assembled more than 181,000 trucks and SUVs.
Interested in working for Toyota Texas?
If you are interested working for Toyota Texas, the automaker has created a web application. Starting pay is $21.25 per hour, with overtime and pay increases scheduled at 6-month increments. There are also a slew of benefits including medical and dental as well as a 401K. Plus, onsite services include a gym, pharmacy, physical therapy and medical clinic.
The bottom line
Though this investment has likely been planned for a while, we can’t help but wonder about the timing of the announcement. The expansion concerns “drivetrain parts production,” and, in case you missed it, there is a current bruhaha about the 2022-2023 Toyota Tundra engine, due to debris in the engine.
Not that this expansion is building engines, mind you. But the announcement helps deflect some of the negative press the company has been getting in recent weeks.
Regardless, investment equals opportunity.
