Toyota plant in ad spotlight

Huntsville site featured in firm's national campaign

Thursday, July 29, 2004

By MARIAN ACCARDI

Times Business Writer accardi@htimes.com

Here's another feather that city promoters can put in their caps: Toyota's Huntsville engine plant is featured in the automaker's new national advertising campaign launched this week.

Toyota Motor Corp.'s "Good Business" campaign emphasizes the automaker's long-term commitment to jobs in the U.S. market. The Huntsville plant is featured in the second print advertisement of the campaign, which is expected to hit newsstands today in AutoWeek magazine. Starting next week, the ad is scheduled to appear in Time, The New Yorker, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and Newsweek.

The campaign will run for several months in more than 40 national publications.

The headline of the ad featuring the Huntsville plant reads, "It's an engine for economic growth." The photograph with the ad shows Reggie Jones of the plant's quality control department, surrounded by engines. The ad copy also mentions Toyota's Indiana truck plant and plants now under construction in Jackson, Tenn., and San Antonio.

A second version of the ad will feature Shane Perry of the Huntsville plant.

"It's a good plant, and we want to feature it to give it some recognition" nationally, said Dennis Cuneo, senior vice president of Toyota Motor North America.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, in the North Huntsville Industrial Park, produces 120,000 V8 engines a year for Toyota's Tundra pickup. Cuneo led the site selection team that picked Huntsville for the plant.

"When I see the progress of that plant," he said, "it reconfirms that we made a good decision."

Brian Hilson, president and chief executive of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, said the ad "gives us tremendous exposure."

The Huntsville plant employs 350 people, with another 150 to be added next year after a $20 million expansion. The new production line will assemble V6 engines for Tundra and Tacoma trucks and will boost Toyota's total investment here to $240 million.

Stephanie Deemer, a local Toyota spokeswoman, said the plant's total capacity after the expansion will be 250,000 engines a year. Startup for V6 engine production is scheduled for September 2005.




Toyota plant in ad spotlight Huntsville site featured in firm's national campaign Thursday, July 29, 2004 By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer accardi@htimes.com Here's another feather that city promoters can put in their caps: Toyota's Huntsville engine plant is featured in the automaker's new national advertising campaign launched this week. Toyota Motor Corp.'s "Good Business" campaign emphasizes the automaker's long-term commitment to jobs in the U.S. market. The Huntsville plant is featured in the second print advertisement of the campaign, which is expected to hit newsstands today in AutoWeek magazine. Starting next week, the ad is scheduled to appear in Time, The New Yorker, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and Newsweek. The campaign will run for several months in more than 40 national publications. The headline of the ad featuring the Huntsville plant reads, "It's an engine for economic growth." The photograph with the ad shows Reggie Jones of the plant's quality control department, surrounded by engines. The ad copy also mentions Toyota's Indiana truck plant and plants now under construction in Jackson, Tenn., and San Antonio. A second version of the ad will feature Shane Perry of the Huntsville plant. "It's a good plant, and we want to feature it to give it some recognition" nationally, said Dennis Cuneo, senior vice president of Toyota Motor North America. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, in the North Huntsville Industrial Park, produces 120,000 V8 engines a year for Toyota's Tundra pickup. Cuneo led the site selection team that picked Huntsville for the plant. "When I see the progress of that plant," he said, "it reconfirms that we made a good decision." Brian Hilson, president and chief executive of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, said the ad "gives us tremendous exposure." The Huntsville plant employs 350 people, with another 150 to be added next year after a $20 million expansion. The new production line will assemble V6 engines for Tundra and Tacoma trucks and will boost Toyota's total investment here to $240 million. Stephanie Deemer, a local Toyota spokeswoman, said the plant's total capacity after the expansion will be 250,000 engines a year. Startup for V6 engine production is scheduled for September 2005. Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.