Toyota Takes Top Slot from GM, Expands in Canada

Toyota is again the number-one automaker in the world, taking the title back from General Motors in the first half of 2012. The numbers don't lie. Toyota sold 4.97 million vehicles globally during the first six months of the year. GM sold 4.67 million.

What a classic story of manufacturing reinvention or better put, manufacturing renaissance. A few years ago we were all wondering where the company had gone wrong. Long seen as a symbol of efficiency and manufacturing excellence, Toyota was rocked by recall after recall, scandal after scandal.
Those days are gone.

The Japanese company plans to become even more of a force in North America, with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. (TMMC) announcing plans to invest more than $100 million and hire approximately 400 to increase Lexus production at its Cambridge, Ontario facility. Overall Lexus capacity will increase by 30,000 vehicles to 104,000 units, including 15,000 RX450h vehicles, the hybrid electric version of the popular Lexus.

Toyota is targeting early 2014 for expanded Lexus production. “This is a big and ambitious project with new technology, exacting standards and tight timelines,” said TMMC President, Brian Krinock. “Our team members have demonstrated time and time again that they thrive on these kinds of challenges.”

TMMC currently manufactures the Toyota Corolla, Matrix, RAV4, RAV4 EV models and the Lexus RX model in plants located in Cambridge, ON and Woodstock, ON. The company currently employs approximately 6,500. 

“The team members at TMMC have shown tremendous dedication to creating high-quality Lexus vehicles,” said Mark Templin, Lexus General Manager. “With rising demand for our RX 450h hybrids, moving that production to an award-winning North American plant is great news for Lexus. We look forward to partnering with TMMC to continue the tradition of manufacturing outstanding RX luxury utility vehicles.”

Today’s announcement is the latest in a string of Toyota North American production increase announcements since February at plants in Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama and the second in Canada. Cumulative investment total is approximately $745 million and more than 1,500 jobs are being added.

"This Lexus production increase, and the several announcements before it, reflects our growing optimism for an improving North American market and our intent to localize more production," said Steve St. Angelo, Executive Vice President of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.