Thursday, October 25, 2012

Toyota: Made in the USA


Toyota’s American Operations
When people think of the American auto industry, they usually think of the Big Three headquartered in Detroit. What many people don’t realize is, while Toyota has headquarters in Japan, many Toyota vehicle are built and many Toyota jobs are located right here in the USA.

Yes, Toyota could even be considered an American car.

Here are some fast facts for you:
  • There are 10 Toyota manufacturing plants located across US
  •  Nine Toyota models are built in the US
  • There are 1,500 Toyota, Scion and Lexus dealerships in the US
  • Toyotas built in the US export to 21 countries around the world
  • There have been 17 million Toyotas built in the US
  • There have been $18 billion in investments in the US by Toyota
While ‘operations’ may sound like a dry topic, you may as well interpret “Toyota operations” to mean “Toyota jobs in America,” which has even more meaning in this tough economy. It is easy to put numbers on ‘operations,’ but what is more important is how Toyota operations impact a local community and economy.
Most relevant to our many of our readers and patrons in Burien, Toyota posts some big numbers in the state of Washington:
  •  Toyota employs more than 2,800 people in Washington
  • Toyota has invested more than $390 million dollars in Washington
  • Toyota has donated more than $812,000 to causes in Washington
  • There are 34 Toyota dealerships across the state that have a ripple affect on local economies, including your favorite Toyota dealership in Burien, Toyota of Burien. J

In fact, Toyota has even partnered up with another local business: Microsoft. According to its website, “…Toyota is partnering with Microsoft to develop the next generation of in-car technology. The partnership will create a new system that doesn’t just give our drivers access to entertainment and navigation features, but also will allow you to better manage energy consumption inside and outside of your car — while you drive, when the car is charging, and even in your home.”

Speaking of technology (because we know Americans love their technology), Toyota also has a technical center headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., which is the leading technical center outside of Japan. The Toyota Technical Center “has been the driving force behind Toyota's North American engineering and research and development activities for more than 35 years.”

Toyota is committed to growing its presence in the US, too. Toyota’s newest plant is in Blue Springs, Mississippi and employs 2,000 people, will make 150,000 Toyota Corollas per year and represents $800 million in investments in the state of Mississippi. Those are big numbers of no small consequence to the Blue Springs community, state of Mississippi and American economy.

Toyota’s operations are not simply limited to making whole cars, either. “Almost forty years ago, Toyota opened its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Long Beach, Calif. Since then, Toyota Auto Body Company, Inc. (TABC, Inc.) has produced a range of automotive parts, and currently manufactures steering columns, coated substrates, and catalytic converters for Toyota vehicles built in North America. Our success with TABC paved the way for Toyota’s ongoing manufacturing investment in North America and continues today in California — and across the U.S.”There are plants like this all over the US.

There are also numerous financial services offices (including one located in Bellevue, Wash.) and sales offices all over the country. Each of these is dedicated to the quality that Americans have come to expect from Toyota and each of these shows the enormous presence of Toyota in the US.

These are just a few examples of how Toyotas are made and sold in the US and how Toyota has a huge, positive impact on American lives. All across the country, from financial services offices to manufacturing plants to sales offices, you will see Toyota’s dedication to innovation, quality and reliability.
You can find out more about Toyota in the US and its impact on local economies, including our own here in Washington State and Burien, at the website below.

Support a business that that supports your community: buy your next car at Toyota of Burien.

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