Toyota investing $400 million to increase production of Highlander
A $400 million investment is being made by Toyota Motor Corp to move production of its Highlander crossover from Japan to Princeton, Indiana, where the Highlander is currently made.
“This project allows for better utilization of the Indiana plant and will help Toyota capitalize on the improving North American and global auto market,” said Steve St. Angelo, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. “In addition to new jobs at the Indiana plant, this project will increase opportunities and jobs for our North American supply base.”
Toyota is anticipating the hybrid variant to boost Highlander sales overall by 50,000 units before 2014. Last year, 101,868 models rolled off the production line in Indiana, while hybrid sales hit 5,000.
Units produced in the Princeton factory will be exported globally, says President Yoshshimi Inaba, Toyota Motor North America President.
The addition of the Highlander hybrid will also be creating 400 additional jobs.
– By: Alexandra Koken
