Assembly workers do final checks and first startup on the new Toyota Highlander at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana Friday morning, Jan. 17, 2020. (Photo: MaCabe Brown / Courier & Press)
Wood Memorial High School Sophomore Luke Shenks climbs into a new Toyota Highlander during launch at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana Friday morning, Jan. 17, 2020. (Photo: MaCabe Brown / Courier & Press)
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PRINCETON — Indiana's prosperous manufacturing environment goes hand-in-hand with Toyota's growth in the state, Gov. Eric Holcomb said.
Three years after announcing a $600 million expansion and 400 new jobs in Princeton, Toyota officials on Friday said the plant is being modernized again, this time with a $700 million investment and 150 more jobs.
It's all because of the Highlander. The midsize SUV rolls off Toyota's Princeton assembly line at the rate of 265,592 units per year, and with the investment and new employment announced Friday, the total will reach 420,000.
Holcomb, who has been at multiple previous major announcements at Toyota's Princeton plant, pointed to the "ripple effect" the company's growth has had.
"There's a lot of momentum. Every day, we pick up more speed, and it's been earned," Holcomb said. "Toyota has become this rising tide that lifts all boats. Think about the long supply chain, this is a great day for them as well, to be able to meet the consumer demand, and do it right here in Southwest Indiana."
Toyota's workforce in Princeton exceeds 7,000. The plant also produces the Highlander Hybrid, the Sienna minivan and the Sequoia full-size utility vehicle. Friday's announcement was accompanied by news that Sequoia production will leave Princeton for San Antonio, Texas, in 2022.
This realignment will not mean the subtraction of any jobs, according to company officials.
They said Friday's news is all about the continued popularity of the Highlander.
The 2020 model made its official debut during Friday's splashy announcement in the newly-christened Toyota Experience Center (formerly the Visitors Center). The vehicle's starting price is $34,600, according to toyota.com.
“We need as many Highlanders as we can make,” said Chris Reynolds, chief operating officer for manufacturing and corporate resources for Toyota North America. “Customers love them, and we need to make more of them.”
Toyota team members produce vehicles on two daily shifts. In 2019, more than 57,000 vehicles from Princeton were exported to 17 countries.
The plant covers 1,160 acres. With 4.5 million square feet, it has the space of about 80 football fields under roof. Its annual payroll is about $456 million.
Deanna Tackett graduated from Gibson Southern High School before studying aviation at Purdue University. After several years away, she returned to Gibson County 17 years ago to work at Toyota, and today, she's senior manager of quality.
Tackett said team members at Toyota are involved in not only producing the plant's vehicles but also coming up with new technologies to improve them. She said one feature of the 2020 Highlander customers will enjoy is the heads-up display.
"Just the ride overall, it's so smooth," Tackett said.
Toyota Indiana President Leah Curry, who recently took over for the retired Millie Marshall, also is a Gibson County native.
Curry said the plant is a Southwest Indiana success story.
"We have built over 5 million vehicles in this plant since its inception," Curry said. "Our Hoosiers built those right here in the state of Indiana. That’s absolutely wonderful. And those are shipped to 17 different countries. We are a global company right here in Princeton, Indiana.”
When the Sequoia relocates to San Antonio, it will be produced under the same roof as the Toyota Tundra. That plant will cease production of the Toyota Tacoma by late 2021.
Toyota facilities in California and Mexico continue to build Tacomas.
New workforce training announced
Toyota also announced Friday it is committing $1 million over four years to a new, regional workforce development program connecting area high school students to careers in modern manufacturing.
The 4T Academy will benefit students at Princeton Community High School, Gibson Southern High School and Wood Memorial High School. The four Ts are Tigers (Princeton), Titans (Gibson Southern), Trojans (Wood Memorial) and Toyota.
"Upon completion, students will be fully prepared for a career in manufacturing," Curry said.
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