Toyota shifts Tacoma pickup production from Texas to Mexico; continues $13 billion US investment

The San Antonio plant has been running over capacity for years. They literally can’t make any more trucks. I’m assuming there’s more profit in a tundra than a Tacoma. Isn’t it possible that Toyota is hoping the next gen tundra is more successful than its predecessor and wants to be able to produce 200k a year of them if demand is there? Look how much market share the New Ram gained. Couldn’t the same happen if the new Tundra is far superior?
If Toyota wants to grow their share of full size trucks what choice do they have but move taco production to a different plant. As it’s been said here they have been building Tacoma’s in Mexico for years. Seems easier to move more production and focus on growing tundra sales.

 

This year could be peak Taco sales with all the new players and updates to come (Frontier hopefully), but Tundra could have room to grow. Looking for a best-case here...

 

True but the next 4runner isnt expected till 2023 now with the late Tundra and Sequoia update. Will be interesting to see if the next gen 4runner is still made there in the future, especially as the Taco moves to the same platform as well for the 4th gen come 2024 and I'm betting a majority of 4runner sales are here in the U.S.

 

Unless they make it like a highlander only bigger? Or put it on a massive diet and make it hybrid? Make Tundra a twin turbo v6 hybrid with aluminum?
Point is NOBODY HERE has a clue. Judging by Toyota actions right now, they seem to think they are going to be building a lot of something in San Antonio and are making room for it.

 

I sure as hell don’t know. I’m just hoping the next gen Tundra is awesome.

 

Haha!

 

They stated they are moving models with lower production numbers to plants that require upgrades. Did I misread every one of these articles?

 

it’s being protective.

 

Except Tacoma’s have been made in the US far longer and if they have no choice to move them to different plant, why they chose to build another plant in Mexico instead of another one in the States.

 

Lol today. Numbers today. So when they put out new models it will have new equipment to manufacture. I can't even imagine what a fender stamp would cost!

 

They’re still running 6 amazing factories in the US and are opening another shortly. For a foreign automaker is that really that bad? It’s mind blowing to see this attitude around a non domestic brand, they don’t owe us factories in the U.S, in fact they gained their legendary reputation because they WEREN’T built in the U.S. when we were making garbage.

Hell there are a few around here who still crap all over themselves proclaiming the superiority of Japanese built Toyotas.

I’m happy they have the factories that they do here, and from all accounts they treat their workers well. They’re no GM, taking taxpayer money and then thanking everyone by closing several of their U.S. factories. I’m not mad at ALL that they shifted the New Mexican factory from Camry’s to Tacoma’s, and you should all get over it to. That speaks to the success of the Tacoma, and if anything we should be hoping the new Tundra is a big success too.

 

Right. Gotta love TW. I swear every month I see a my truck was made in Mexico so its crap thread pop up here and just want to jump across the screen. Oh well, people are gonna continue to dig their feet in the sand whether right or wrong, just the world we live in these days.

 

Oh the joy holding up the line at the Drive Thru at Starbum during morning Rush Hour to get your coffee. I bet some of the weed smoking college kids would be confused as hell.

 

Try to do that the next time you go to the grocery store...Read the label and see how much stuff is coming from China Mexico Thailand Argentina Canada and Vietnam.

 

Oh no! Our beloved Tacoma’s are going to be built in North America and not Japan, wait a minute, Tacoma’s have always been made in North America

 

They have been US built for a long time. Not sure why this move to Mexico is being defended.

 

Because Tacos are better in Mexico.

 

Probably because it’s not a move, it’s a shift. The average member in this sub forum probably already has a Mexican built Tacoma, and there are no issues exclusive to the Baja plant. In fact, the Texas exclusive Tundras are still having cam tower issues, not to mention still having seeping rear diffs which were resolved years ago on the Tacoma.

 

I don't believe they build the Tundra engine or rear diffs in the Texas plant though.

 

Pretty sure they're built at the assembly plant in West Virginia.