Toyota adding 300 jobs

$250 million expansion 2nd at engine plant in 14 months

Saturday, September 25, 2004

By JOHN PECK

Times Staff Writer jpeck@htimes.com

The Toyota engine plant in northwest Huntsville keeps growing.

Gov. Bob Riley joined Toyota executives and community leaders Friday in Montgomery to announce a $250 million expansion that will add 300 jobs at the plant. The expansion, which will supply V-8 engines for Toyota plants in Indiana and San Antonio, marks the Huntsville facility's second in a little more than a year.

Toyota decided to build in Huntsville just three and a half years ago.

When both expansions are fully operational in 2006, Huntsville's Toyota plant will employ 800 workers and churn out 400,000 V-8 and V-6 engines a year. Initial employment was 350. The first expansion adding the V-6 line called for 150 additional workers.

"Toyota is proud to be building the heart of the Tundra right here in Alabama, and the additional engine capacity announced today will be built to the same dedication to quality as our current V-8 and the upcoming V-6," said Haruaki Hoshino, president of the Huntsville Toyota plant. Hoshino said the company's total investment in Huntsville will be nearly $500 million.

Riley said the back-to-back expansions, coupled with the growing presence of other automotive manufacturers and suppliers in Alabama, underscores the caliber of the state's work force and the confidence company executives have in Alabama.

"Alabama truly is on the right track," he said in a news conference at the state Capitol.

Mayor Loretta Spencer, area congressional leaders, local chamber officials, Madison County Commission Chairman Mike Gillespie, state Rep. Laura Hall of Huntsville and others joined Riley for Friday's announcement.

Spencer said Huntsville's investment in the North Huntsville Industrial Park paid off when Toyota committed in February 2001 to be its first tenant.

"Who came along but the greatest?" she said.

Since May 2003, Toyota has been supplying V-8 engines for the Tundra full-size pickup produced in Indiana. The expansion announced Friday will help supply Tundras and Sequoia sport utility vehicles produced in Indiana and Tundras that will be produced at a Toyota plant under construction in San Antonio. The V-6 engines should roll off Huntsville assembly lines next August. The latest expansion should turn out additional engines in 2006.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, applauded Toyota's expansion decision and praised Huntsville for being a "bright spot" in Alabama. "You've lifted our boat a lot of times," he told Huntsville leaders. Sessions said the deal proves there are benefits to globalization.

"It's a good day for all of us," said U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville.

Brian Hilson, president and chief executive officer of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, said the economic impact of the Toyota announcement is "substantial." The extra property tax revenue for Huntsville schools alone - as a direct result of this latest investment from Toyota, beginning with the first year of operation - is an estimated $855,000 a year, he said. The Toyota plant overall will provide an estimated $1.7 million a year in taxes for city schools.

With the plant's multiplier effect, the 300 new jobs should create an additional 192 jobs in the county, with 75 percent of those in Huntsville, Hilson said.

"It's great for our community to grow and grow in the right way," he said. "These are great jobs."

Construction of the expansion should begin early next year, said Dennis Cuneo, senior vice president of Toyota of North America.

State officials also praised Toyota for its generosity in helping hurricane victims. The automaker recently gave $1.5 million to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief efforts.




Toyota adding 300 jobs $250 million expansion 2nd at engine plant in 14 months Saturday, September 25, 2004 By JOHN PECK Times Staff Writer jpeck@htimes.com The Toyota engine plant in northwest Huntsville keeps growing. Gov. Bob Riley joined Toyota executives and community leaders Friday in Montgomery to announce a $250 million expansion that will add 300 jobs at the plant. The expansion, which will supply V-8 engines for Toyota plants in Indiana and San Antonio, marks the Huntsville facility's second in a little more than a year. Toyota decided to build in Huntsville just three and a half years ago. When both expansions are fully operational in 2006, Huntsville's Toyota plant will employ 800 workers and churn out 400,000 V-8 and V-6 engines a year. Initial employment was 350. The first expansion adding the V-6 line called for 150 additional workers. "Toyota is proud to be building the heart of the Tundra right here in Alabama, and the additional engine capacity announced today will be built to the same dedication to quality as our current V-8 and the upcoming V-6," said Haruaki Hoshino, president of the Huntsville Toyota plant. Hoshino said the company's total investment in Huntsville will be nearly $500 million. Riley said the back-to-back expansions, coupled with the growing presence of other automotive manufacturers and suppliers in Alabama, underscores the caliber of the state's work force and the confidence company executives have in Alabama. "Alabama truly is on the right track," he said in a news conference at the state Capitol. Mayor Loretta Spencer, area congressional leaders, local chamber officials, Madison County Commission Chairman Mike Gillespie, state Rep. Laura Hall of Huntsville and others joined Riley for Friday's announcement. Spencer said Huntsville's investment in the North Huntsville Industrial Park paid off when Toyota committed in February 2001 to be its first tenant. "Who came along but the greatest?" she said. Since May 2003, Toyota has been supplying V-8 engines for the Tundra full-size pickup produced in Indiana. The expansion announced Friday will help supply Tundras and Sequoia sport utility vehicles produced in Indiana and Tundras that will be produced at a Toyota plant under construction in San Antonio. The V-6 engines should roll off Huntsville assembly lines next August. The latest expansion should turn out additional engines in 2006. U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, applauded Toyota's expansion decision and praised Huntsville for being a "bright spot" in Alabama. "You've lifted our boat a lot of times," he told Huntsville leaders. Sessions said the deal proves there are benefits to globalization. "It's a good day for all of us," said U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville. Brian Hilson, president and chief executive officer of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, said the economic impact of the Toyota announcement is "substantial." The extra property tax revenue for Huntsville schools alone - as a direct result of this latest investment from Toyota, beginning with the first year of operation - is an estimated $855,000 a year, he said. The Toyota plant overall will provide an estimated $1.7 million a year in taxes for city schools. With the plant's multiplier effect, the 300 new jobs should create an additional 192 jobs in the county, with 75 percent of those in Huntsville, Hilson said. "It's great for our community to grow and grow in the right way," he said. "These are great jobs." Construction of the expansion should begin early next year, said Dennis Cuneo, senior vice president of Toyota of North America. State officials also praised Toyota for its generosity in helping hurricane victims. The automaker recently gave $1.5 million to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief efforts. Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.