Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky

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Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc.
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryAutomotive
FoundedJanuary 23, 1986 (1986-01-23)
Headquarters
Georgetown, Kentucky
,
United States
Key people
Susan Elkington (president)
Productsautomobiles and engines
Number of employees
10,151 (2017[1])
ParentToyota Motor North America
Websitewww.toyotageorgetown.com

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) is an automobile manufacturing factory in Georgetown, Kentucky, United States. It is part of Toyota Motor North America, owned by Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan.

History[]

Originally known as Toyota Motor Manufacturing USA, TMMK was established in 1986 (the first wholly owned Toyota manufacturing plant in the U.S.) and is Toyota's largest manufacturing facility in the world.

TMMK began production in May 1988,[2] building the 1989 model 4-cylinder Camry. In the beginning, the engines were manufactured at Toyota Kamigo plant in Toyota City, Japan and shipped to TMMK; however, an on-site engine plant was added from 1988 to 1992, increasing the American content to 75%. Employees improved the production process.[3][4]

Harbour Consulting rated it as the eighth most efficient auto plant in North America in 2006.[5][failed verification]

Toyota's decision to open a factory in the United States was based on the early days of automobile manufacturing in Japan during the late 1920s and 1930s, when both Ford and GM had opened factories in Japan and enjoyed a large market share of products sold. Ford opened a factory at Yokohama in March 1925 and in 1927 GM opened Osaka Assembly until both factories were appropriated by the Imperial Japanese Government before World War 2.[6]

In addition to TMMK, Toyota added Camry production at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. in 2007 to keep up with demand for the new Camry and increase production capacity of the Camry Hybrid prior to the decline in the automotive industry in the U.S. On 13 November 2013, Toyota announced it would end the contract with Subaru of Indiana Automotive in 2016.[7] SIA's Camry production was reabsorbed by TMMK, largely because of declines in midsize sedan sales.

TMMK began the production of the Lexus ES sedan beginning in October 2015, adding 50,000 vehicles annually and 750 jobs to the facility. Toyota invested $360 million to accommodate the additional work.[8] "Lexus was founded in the United States, so it is only fitting that we are bringing the production of luxury sedans for our U.S. customers back to where the brand was born," said Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor Corporation. "It is also fitting that we chose Kentucky because it was Toyota's first stand-alone plant in America. So in a way, for manufacturing, Kentucky is Toyota's home. It also has some of the most-experienced Toyota team members in the world."[9] Daniel Lowry, a spokesperson for the Kentucky Cabinet of Economic Development, gave credit to the high quality of Kentucky's workforce, saying Lexus wanted its best people involved in the first U.S. expansion of the brand's manufacturing.[9]

The best selling car in the United States, the Toyota Camry, is manufactured in Georgetown, Kentucky.

It presently builds the Avalon sedan, Camry sedan, and Lexus ES sedan and RAV4 Hybrid for the 2020 Model Year. It previously produced the Sienna minivan, Venza crossover, and Camry Solara coupe and convertible. The factory also produces 4-cylinder and V6 engines and powertrain parts. The plant has three automobile assembly lines (two Toyota lines and one Lexus line) with an annual capacity of 550,000 vehicles, and an engine shop with an annual capacity of 600,000 engines. In addition to assembling vehicles and engines, many plastic parts used at TMMK are made at an on-site plastics shop.

Toyota spent $1.33 billion at the facility and added 700 new jobs in 2017 in preparation for the all new 2018 Camry; the first copies of which rolled off the line on 28 June 2017. TMMK is also the first US facility to use Toyota's new TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) technology which underpins the 2018 Camry.

Environmental traits[]

The TMMK Visitor's Center

TMMK was designated as a "zero landfill facility" in 2005.[10] The designation means that all of the waste produced on-site is either recycled or reused and nothing is sent to landfills. Waste is composted, totalling three tons per day with excess capacity — enough that the previous manufacturing headquarters of TEMA, about an hour's drive to the north in Erlanger, Kentucky, would send their waste down for compost. The headquarters has recently relocated to Plano, TX.

The grounds also sports a very large vegetable garden. In 2005, the produce produced at TMMK helped a nearby charitable organization, God's Pantry, distribute 2.5 million pounds (1100 t) of produce, exceeding its yearly goal by 2 million pounds (930 t).[10] The garden also produces a full crop of pumpkins used at the Toyota Child Development Center for carving at Halloween, and corn which enhances the compost pile.

Vehicles Produced[]

Model years:

  • Toyota Camry (1988–present)
  • Toyota Camry Hybrid (2006–present)
  • Toyota Avalon (1995–2022)
  • Toyota Avalon Hybrid (2012–2022)
  • Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (2020–present)
  • Lexus ES 350 (2016–present)
  • Lexus ES 300h (2019-present)

Former vehicles produced[]

Engines Produced[]

  • Toyota 3S-FE 2.0L I4 (1990–1991) for Camry (engines previously made in Japan and shipped in)
  • Toyota 5S-FE 2.2L I4 (1992–2001) for Camry
  • Toyota 2AZ-FE 2.4L I4 (2002–2009) for Camry and Camry Solara
  • Toyota 2AZ-FXE 2.4L I4/Electric Hybrid (2006–2011) for Camry Hybrid
  • Toyota 1AR-FE 2.7 I4 (2009–2016) for Venza
  • Toyota 2AR-FE 2.5 I4 (2009–2017) for Camry
  • Toyota 2AR-FXE 2.5 I4/Electric Hybrid (2011–2018) for Camry Hybrid and Avalon Hybrid
  • Toyota A25A-FKS 2.5 I4 (2017–present) for Camry, Camry AWD, and Avalon AWD
  • Toyota A25A-FXS 2.5 I4/Electric Hybrid (2017–present) for Camry Hybrid and Avalon Hybrid
  • Toyota 3VZ-FE 3.0L V6 (1992–1994) for Camry
  • Toyota 1MZ-FE 3.0L V6 (1994–2004) for Camry, Avalon, and Sienna (made elsewhere but shipped in for 2004–2006)
  • Toyota 3MZ-FE 3.3L V6 (2004–2006) for 2004–2006 Camry SE and Camry Solara (made elsewhere but shipped in 2006–2008 for Camry Solara)
  • Toyota 2GR-FE 3.5L V6 (2006–2018) for Camry, Avalon, and Venza
  • Toyota 2GR-FKS 3.5L V6 (2017–present) for Camry and Avalon

See also[]

  • List of Toyota manufacturing facilities

External links[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Georgetown/Scott County 2017 Community Profile" (PDF). Georgetown/Scott County Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  2. ^ Axelrod, Karen; Brumberg, Bruce. "Toyota Factory Tour in Georgetown, KY". Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  3. ^ Robert Boyer, Elsie Charron, Ulrich Jurgens, Steven Tolliday (1998). Between Imitation and Innovation: The Transfer and Hybridization of Productive Models in the International Automobile Industry. OUP Oxford. pp. 104–105. ISBN 9780191583940. examine disassembled rival models alongside a Camry and suggest design changes. Team members had to redesign their own process and layout .. better ways of doing the same work more smartly, with less walking, less effort, less bending, and greater speedCS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Global Website | 75 Years of Toyota | Section 3. Local Production Starts in North America | Item 4. Plant Operations Establish Local Roots". www.toyota-global.com. 2012. Construction of TMM's powertrain plant began in April 1988 - completed in March 1992
  5. ^ Valcourt, Josee (2 June 2006). "Efficient auto factories aren't spared the ax". Detroit News. Archived from the original on June 2006. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  6. ^ Mason, Mark (1992). American Multinationals and Japan: The Political Economy of Japanese Capital Controls, 1899-1980. Harvard Univ Asia Center. p. 146. ISBN 9780674026308 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Colombo, Hayleigh (14 November 2013). "Toyota pulling Camry from Subaru's Indiana plant". USA Today. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  8. ^ Kesslernov, Aaron M. (12 November 2015). "With a Hush, an American Lexus Plant Goes to Work". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Milano, Matt (25 April 2013). "Toyota's Expansion Plans for Georgetown Plant Represents Good News For Kentucky". SurfKY.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Martin, Tom (2 June 2006). "Toyota produces motors, 'maters". Lexington Herald-Leader.

Coordinates: 38°15′35″N 84°32′12″W / 38.25975°N 84.53671°W / 38.25975; -84.53671

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