Toyota Investing $210M In West Virginia Expansion

Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia will create 100 new jobs as the company upgrades an existing engine production line in Buffalo, WV.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia (TMMWV) will invest $210 million at its Buffalo, WV operations to help meet customer demand. The project will add 100 new jobs to increase assembly capacity of its four-cylinder engine line. Once complete, TMMWV’s total investment will be more than $1.8 billion and total employment will exceed 2,000.

“Today’s announcement represents Toyota’s continued commitment to our customers as well as our community,” said TMMWV President Srini Matam. “We are thrilled to expand our Toyota family and continue our long-standing commitment to provide top-quality engines and transmissions for our customers.”

TMMWV
Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia (TMMWV) will invest $210 million to upgrade existing engine production in Buffalo, WV. (Photo: Toyota)

The $210 million investment will upgrade TMMWV’s current six-cylinder engine production line with new equipment and machinery, creating flexibility based on market demand for Toyota’s vehicle assembly plants in the U.S. and Canada.

The 100 new jobs will create a third shift due to a significant increase in RAV4 engine production at the Buffalo site, increasing assembly of an additional 5,900 engines per month, or more than 70,000 engines per year. The upgrade project and hiring will be complete in the second half of 2022.

“Toyota’s commitment to increase its investment in West Virginia and into our hard-working West Virginians prove they continue to be a wonderful business partner right here in the Mountain State,” said West Virginia Governor Jim Justice. “This is such exciting news for West Virginia’s business community as well as our families that businesses are choosing to grow their organizations here. Toyota is a wonderful example of how a global company can be successful right here in West Virginia.”

Toyota has more than $28.4 billion direct investment in the U.S., nine manufacturing facilities, a joint manufacturing venture with Mazda, nearly 1,500 independently owned dealerships and approximately 180,000 people working across the U.S.

TMMWV will commemorate its 25th anniversary this year. It annually produces nearly one million engines and transmissions for North American-assembled vehicles, including Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Lexus ES, Lexus RX350, RAV4 , Sienna, and Sienna Hybrid.

TMMWV
Once the Buffalo, WV project is complete, TMMWV’s total investment will exceed $1.8 billion with more than 2,000 employees. (Photo: Toyota)

“Since Toyota first came to West Virginia more than 25 years ago, they have expanded their operations multiple times in Buffalo and proven to the country that our state has the skilled and dedicated workforce necessary for any company to be successful here. I have seen this dedication and strong work ethic of the Toyota Team Members firsthand during facility visits, and I’m glad that today’s announcement will create new job opportunities for hardworking West Virginians to pursue,” said Senator Shelley Moore Capito. “I’m thrilled that the Buffalo engine plant is continuing to play a key role in producing the engines and motors that power U.S. vehicles as Toyota continues to develop and incorporate exciting new technologies into their fleet. West Virginia has a long and productive relationship with Toyota, and this announcement today further solidifies the company’s commitment to investing in our state and our workers.”

“In 2005 as Governor, I had the opportunity to travel to Japan to meet with Dr. Toyoda and company officials and since then they have been a strong partner for West Virginia. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Toyota as they continue to build on their investments in the state, which now total more than $1.8 billion and support 2,000 good-paying jobs,” said Senator Joe Manchin. “Today’s announcement of 100 new jobs and its continued investment in the state is testament to the team in Buffalo and the West Virginia workforce. The partnership between Toyota and West Virginia is stronger than ever and I look forward to continuing to work with Toyota officials to foster more long-term investments in our economy, communities and people.”

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