In a move that will cut up to a third of potential Toyota Tundra
manufacturing capacity, Toyota has announced all Tundra production
will be shifted from its Princeton, Ind., factory to be consolidated
at its San Antonio truck plant. Production of the Toyota Highlander
SUV will replace the Tundra in Princeton.
Previously, the Tundra was built in both Princeton and San Antonio,
with the Princeton plant capable of building up to 100,000 full-size
Tundras annually. The San Antonio facility can build up to 200,000
Tundras each year.
The
fact that it’s consolidating all Tundra production in
Texas appears to indicate Toyota doesn't believe it can sell more than 200,000
full-size trucks annually in the U.S. -- even after it introduces
future models, like a diesel-powered version of the Tundra or rumored
heavy-duty models.
Toyota
sold just over 196,000 Tundras in the US last year. This year
that number could drop to under 140,000 units.
Update
#1: 04-03-08 09:24 PT
Toyota
has issued a statement saying it's not currently planning to
move Tundra production from Indiana.
Toyota
Press Release
Toyota has no plans to move its operations from Gibson County
as a newspaper headline reported Thursday morning.
A globally-circulated newspaper last month speculated on the
product mix at Toyota's plants in Indiana and Texas where the
Toyota Tundra is built. That speculation was driven by the current
automotive market downturn, particularly among the full-size
pickup truck and sport utility vehicle segments. That report
was picked up by local media.
None of the speculation in earlier media reports is substantiated
and certainly no decisions have been made. Toyota remains committed
to its Gibson County operations and to the employment security
of the veteran and skillful team members who build great Toyota
trucks, sport utility vehicles and minivans.
Source:
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc.
The Wall
Street Journal says Toyota is considering moving
all Tundra production from its manufacturing plant in Princeton,
Indiana and consolidating it at its factory in San Antonio, Texas.
But
according to the Evansville
Courier & Press, Kelly Dillon, a Toyota spokeswoman
at the Princeton plant, said she knows of no such plan.
In March,
Toyota said slowing sales of its half-ton pickup were prompting it to reduce
Tundra production.
The San
Antonio facility can build up to 200,000 units a year, while the
Princeton plant can produce 100,000 a year. Consolidating all Tundra
production in Texas could mean that Toyota doesn't believe it can sell
more than 200,000 full size trucks annually in the U.S. - even after
it introduces future models, like a diesel powered version of the Tundra.
Last year Toyota sold over 196,000 Tundras.
