The Freemont Plant is closing!

[reinvent]

Looks like our trucks will be made exclusively in Mexico soon.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/bu...=toyota&st=cse

[surfsupl]

the majority of voters wanted "change"...

[toto]

I think the writing was on the wall for NUMMI when GM declared bankruptcy. Toyota certainly has no need for additional plant capacity in North America, so with GM pulling out of the plant, its fate was sealed.

Like the article suggests, they could start assembling Tacomas at another truck plant in Texas or Indiana. The engines come from West Virginia regardless of where the Tacoma is assembled. They'll certainly continue to make Tacomas just over the border in Mexico, as all beds are made in that plant regardless of the final assembly plant. Toyota has other car plants in the eastern U.S. that could make the Corolla.

It's bad news for the people in California, but maybe there's a chance some of the workers could get jobs at another plant if they can relocate.

[acidchylde]

There's already a thread about this on the second page of the forum:

Toyota to close NUMMI?

[motoretro]

Certainly a sign of the times....although if that's the case, my 09 is the last Tacoma I'll purchase. I have no problem buying a Japanese brand vehicle...as long as the assembly plant is here and domestic content is high. Too many decent paying jobs going away.

Motoretro

[toto]

I have read that the domestic content is currently about 70%, whether it's assembled in the U.S. or Mexico.

[motoretro]

Originally Posted by toto

I have read that the domestic content is currently about 70%, whether it's assembled in the U.S. or Mexico.

That figure is correct although moving the line to Mexico removes a lot of U.S. assembly line jobs and lots of revenue from California in the form of taxes and the money these people spend to live.....


Motoretro

[el_smurfo]

They will probably move most of the Tacoma production to their other US plants...Tundra plants have plenty of excess capacity. It's totally predictable that the first major plant Toyota closes is in California, as it is one of the most business unfriendly states in the country. Next time you are checking out all the rock chips on your hood, you can thank the California legislature and hope your next truck is built in Kentucky...