Two New Electrified Models Coming to Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana | Harlingen, TX
This spring, Toyota made a landmark announcement: To mark the 25th anniversary of the Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (TMMI) plant in Princeton, Indiana, the automaker will be launching two new vehicles into production at the factory.
This marks an investment of a whopping $803 million that will add 1,400 jobs in the community. The plant currently employs 7,000 people.
“Selecting Toyota Indiana for this opportunity shows the confidence Toyota has in our employees to take on new and exciting challenges,” remarked Leah Curry, TMMI president. “Expanding our Toyota family by 1,400 is a challenge we are eager to accept. This is a testament to the strong workforce in the Southwest Indiana region. We’re waiting with open arms to welcome new people and products to the family and can’t wait to get started.”
To date, Toyota has invested $6.6 billion in TMMI. In 1998, the plant produced the first Tundra — and its contributions to the larger Toyota story have only grown from there.
So what are the two models that the plant will be producing?
No clue.
That’s right, Toyota made this major announcement back in April but didn’t give us any of the juicy details. The automaker should be releasing more later this year. Here is what we do know now.
One and One
One of the new models will have a Toyota nameplate, but the other will actually be a Lexus. This will mark the first time that TMMI will produce a Lexus model. Lexus is the luxury arm of the Toyota brand.
Targeted at Gen Y
Toyota says both new models focus on the Generation Y American Family. To that end, both new models will be three-row SUVs. That means seating for seven or eight passengers and plenty of cargo space.
Electrified Powertrains
We do not have any specifics on horsepower or torque output, towing capacity, or even fuel economy. In fact, all we know is that these vehicles will in some way be electrified. But, that could mean a hybrid SUV, a plug-in hybrid, or an all-out electric vehicle. We will have to wait to find out more.
Why the push for electric? In an effort to combat climate change, Toyota is focused on reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, which is less than 30 years away. That means the brand will be sharply pivoting now toward its electrified future.
Fighting climate change is more than just electrifying vehicles, though. Toyota knows that the production processes that go into mass-producing vehicles is also not eco-friendly. That is why the environmental teams at TMMI and other Toyota plans are focused on cutting CO2 emissions from their processes. To date, the TMMI plant has generated thousands of metric tons in CO2 savings, per Toyota. This represents more than a $4 million investment in projects that reduce CO2 emissions. Toyota will be investing another $2.7 million this year.
“Over the past 20 years, Toyota has led the way with more electrified vehicles on the road than all automakers combined,” explained Ted Ogawa, president and CEO of Toyota Motor North America. “This investment and new vehicle lineup will allow us to continue our work with electrification, expand our portfolio to around 70 models globally by 2025, and meet the needs of our customers while we accelerate towards carbon neutrality.”
Cutting-Edge Tech
We might not have all the specifics yet, but Toyota has promised semi-autonomous driving technology. That means hands-free driving in certain road conditions. In addition, Toyota has promised a remote parking system; with this system under proper conditions, a driver can park and unpark the car without being in the vehicle, using only their smartphone and the digital key.
Until the new Toyota vehicles are ready, visit Bert Ogden Toyota in Harlingen, Texas, to get a closer look at our available Toyota models.