NUMMI to close... Tacoma production moving elsewhere...

[Hangtowncruzr]

I worked on new production lines there in the 90's when they were building the geo prizm and the Toyota pickup. I hate to see it close, they put out some great cars and trucks.

[off-roader]

My brother in law works there in Maintenance. At least he's not considered unskilled labor for other industries like the line workers will likely be.

[jim65wagon]

Moving production of the Tacoma to San Antonio, where Toyota
makes the Tundra, raises an interesting possibility that the two
vehicles could share the same frame (obviously a shorter version
for the Tacoma). That would allow both vehicles to share the
same assembly line, and allow a more flexible assembly schedule.

Nissan used this approach with the Frontier, which uses the F-Alpha
frame. That frame is used on the Titan, Armada, Pathfinder and
XTerra, too.

and since they'll be right there, they can slip one of those 310HP 4.6L V-8s into them....mmmm V-8 Tacoma

[washington taco]

We dont need a V-8 Taco we need a Diesel Taco and Turdra.

[Ryanmb21]

Tax people enough and they will leave.

[BKCowGod]

This really sucks for a number of reasons. NUMMI is the last of a strong but mostly forgotten history of automobile production in the Bay Area. It is also pretty much the last major assembly line in NorCal which means not only 4,500 people looking for work, but 4,500 people looking for work in an industry that no longer exists in a place where they have put down roots.

I admit that I am not a fan of UAW, but I was really hoping this plant could be saved somehow. Wonder what they'll do with the building, since we've already turned one former Ford plant into a third-rate mall...

[ryguy]

Can't they just turn it into a d4d factory!!!!

[Overland Hadley]

We dont need a V-8 Taco we need a Diesel Taco and Turdra.

I agree. Why can we not get a small diesel in the Tacoma? I do not need more power, I need better power.

[Skim]

I dont think enough Tacos are being sold to warrant introducing a new powerplant.

[washington taco]

Toyota sold 160,000 Tacomas last year. If the diesel was about 20% of that it would cover the cost to U.S. spec a diesel then add to that the 4 Runner, GX470 and the FJ. For a total of about 40,000 units a year. Rummer has it Ford will longer make the Ranger after 2010, so more market share for the Taco!