The near 800,000 square-foot Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama facility is the only Toyota facility to produce the V-8, V-6 and V-4 engines.

The plant currently builds both V8 and V6 engines. The expansion will bring its annual engine capacity to 577,000. At least 240 new employees will be hired, raising total employment at TMMAL to more than 1,000. New investment will be $147 million, bringing the total to $637 million. Huntsville competed against such foreign countries as Australia, China and Japan for the project.

According to TMMAL President Jim Bolte, the additional line will allow the company more flexibility.

“The addition of a four-cylinder engine to our product mix will allow TMMAL to better react to changes in market demand,” Bolte said. “Our team members have shown great flexibility and dedication over the past few challenging months and the addition of this project shows the confidence our company has in the ability of our Alabama workforce.”

Governor Bob Riley applauded the company for choosing Huntsville for the expansion.

“This is exciting news for Alabama. All over the country you hear about cutbacks and layoffs, but you don’t hear about many expansions. Yet in Alabama, Toyota is not just maintaining their production line, they’re expanding it, bringing more than 240 new jobs to the Huntsville area. Toyota’s investment in Alabama is an example of what happens when we create an environment in which business can succeed and offer the best-trained, most flexible workforce you’ll find anywhere in the world.”

Brian Hilson, president & CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, attributes the expansion to the quality of the Huntsville workforce.

“This development is a real testament to not only the company’s expansion in Alabama and the greater Huntsville community, but also their workforce at the plant here,” Hilson said. “Local Toyota workers continue to prove they are exceptional and there is no question this announcement says a lot about the dependability and the quality of the local workforce. With the addition of 240 jobs here we are certainly happy for the community, but we are even happier for the families here that will benefit.”

Hilson added that the expansion would not be possible without cooperation from the State of Alabama.

“As has been the case since Toyota first looked at Alabama before selecting us as the site for its engine production facility, the state of Alabama played a leading role in meeting Toyota’s needs for this project. Governor Riley’s leadership and commitment made to Toyota for Alabama Industrial Development Training proved critical in Toyota’s decision to select Huntsville for this project,” Hilson added. “The cooperation that we have continued to have from state and local officials gives us a tremendous advantage over other places in economic development, and we are thankful for that.”