Toyota, Aisin Investing $791M in Texas Projects

Toyota Motor North America announced plans to invest $391 million at its San Antonio, TX, truck assembly plant — part of the ongoing, $13-billion capital-investment program across the automaker’s North American portfolio. The San Antonio plant assembles the full-size Tundra and mid-size Tacoma pickup trucks, and has over 3,200 employees.

Without detailing the scope of the improvements there, Toyota said its total capital investments at San Antonio will top $3 billon once the new project is completed.

"This new investment at Toyota Texas is in response to strong customer demand and will make the plant even more competitive in the long-term and more efficient while remaining flexible with multi-vehicle production capabilities by introducing various advanced manufacturing technologies,” according to the OEM’s announcement.

In a related development, announced simultaneously, transmission manufacturer Aisin AW will invest $400 million to build a new plant at nearby Cibolo, TX.  That new plant will employ 900, according to the announcement.

Aisin AW is part of Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd., a portfolio of automotive component and system manufacturing businesses, including aluminum automotive diecastings.

Aisin AW develops and manufactures automatic, hybrid, and manual transmissions, transfer cases, and car navigation systems, for Toyota and other automakers.

In addition to the capital investments, Toyota Texas committed $500,000 over five years to Alamo Promise, a regional economic development effort that focuses on workforce training and education.