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

[TACODOC]

The Associated Press reports that Toyota has decided to end operations at the New United Motor Manufacturing Plant in Northern California, where the Toyota Tacoma midsize pickup truck is produced. The Tacoma is the best selling truck in its segment.

Tacoma production is expected to move to Toyota's truck plant in San Antonio, Texas, where the Tundra full-size truck is currently built. Tacomas are also assembled at a Toyota factory in Tijuana, Mexico.

The NUMMI plant was established in 1984 as a 50/50 joint venture with General Motors. NUMMI began producing a truck, originally called the Hilux, in 1991. Four years later, the Hilux was redesigned and re-named the Tacoma. NUMMI had been producing approximately 163,000 Tacomas a year.

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/08...-is-built.html

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business...realistic.html

[NCLR015]

Called they got tired of all the California BS.

[6Pins]

More likely a combination of things; it was a 50/50 venture with GM and when GM shuttered Pontiac that meant that only the Tacoma would have been built there (it had produced Vibe). Combine that with a decline in orders for Tundras and excess capacity there, it makes sense to put all the trucks under one plant.

[TACODOC]

Word is that they dont like dealing with the UAW and would rather do business elsewhere without them...

[Applejack]

Word is that they dont like dealing with the UAW and would rather do business elsewhere without them...

And who the hell can blame them?

[TACODOC]

And who the hell can blame them?

Not me

[haven]

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.

[SupraTuRD]

I really thought that the Prius was going to be built at Nummi considering CA has the largest demand for them. They would have saved a good chunk not having to ship them from Japan as the cars wouldn't have to be transported very far. The Corolla, the other Toyota product produced at Nummi... is still a very hot seller... apparently not enough for Toyota to warrant keeping the facility open.

Unfortunately, that's 4500 more people looking for jobs in CA. I am very grateful to have what I have, including my job.

[Overland Hadley]

They would have saved a good chunk not having to ship them from Japan as the cars wouldn't have to be transported very far.

Bulk shipping can be surprisingly inexpensive compared to other expenses.

[tacollie]

It is not cheap to run a facility in the U.S. Since the demand for Tundras is down it makes sense to use the facility for more than one vehicle. Sucks for those loosing jobs in CA. Good for those who work in the Tundra plant. Maybe a V8 in the Tacoma is in the future? I doubt it but will dream.