Toyota’s vehicle output up in North America
Toyota announced that it produced 1.44 million vehicles and 1.27 million engines at its North America manufacturing facilities in 2004. Both vehicle output and engine output were record levels for Toyota, which began North American production in 1985 and has steadily expanded operations ever since. The company currently has five vehicle assembly plants in North America. In addition, the company is building a pickup truck plant in San Antonia, Texas and a casting plant in Jackson, Tennessee. Toyota expects its North American manufacturing operations to show a positive performance in 2005 with its Mexico plant, which will run at full capacity in the first half of the year, and the introduction of the new Tacoma and Avalon vehicles. By 2006, Toyota will have an annual capacity of 1.66 million vehicles and 1.44 million engines in North America. Most of the vehicle production increase is attributed to Toyota's new plant in San Antonia.