Toyota Indiana Produces 4 Millionth Vehicle
Since its founding in 1996, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana has grown and grown, currently employing 4,700 team members and producing four outstanding Toyota models—the Sienna, Sequoia, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid. Now, 19 years after its founding, the plant has produced its 4 millionth vehicle—a Blizzard Pearl Highlander Hybrid.
Toyota Indiana produces its 4 millionth vehicle – a 2015 Highlander Hybrid
Toyota Indiana is about to grow even more, with the plant adding extra square footage in order to allow employees to build an extra 30,000 Highlanders every year. The expansion will also add 300 more jobs, bringing Toyota Indiana’s total team members up to 5,000.
“We broke ground here almost 19 years ago to produce Toyota’s first full-size pickup truck, the Tundra,” commented Norm Bafunno, Toyota Indiana president. “Since then, change has been constant. We added the Sequoia full-size SUV and Sienna minivan, shifted our Tundra production to San Antonio, Texas, and brought in the Highlander and Highlander Hybrid midsize SUVs. 4 million vehicles may seem staggering, but our team rose to the occasion every time an opportunity presented itself.”
In its almost two decades in Indiana, Toyota has been committed to giving back to the local community. In the second quarter of 2014, the plant donated a total of $100,000 to local organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters. Additionally, the plant is dedicated to preserving the environment in which it resides, with ventures like its afforestation project helping offset the brand’s carbon footprint in the Midwest.
Time will only tell how long it takes for Toyota Indiana to reach the next milestone of 5 million cars produced.
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