Baja vs Central Mexico

I grew up in Essex County NJ (think Sopranos), stayed there through college graduation. Yea we had our share of assholes but I also had a great group of friends, a couple of which I still keep in touch with to this day. Now that I live in FL I've found the asshole factor here is just as high, it's just a different type of asshole. I don't think any one area has a monopoly on that unfortunately. That said, I've been to Texas quite a few times for work and the only issue I had is those damn "Drive Friendly" signs. They don't seem to make a difference Never ran into a problem with the people, and the BBQ was fantastic.

I'm all for keeping jobs in the US whenever possible, but IMHO to assume that a vehicle is better build quality because it's manufactured in the US isn't a valid assumption. Detroit has proven that myth wrong for years.

 

You must be a Rhodes Scholar. So insightful.

 

I just checked my door jamb, and it literally says, Baja California...for what it's worth.

 

Sandy Eggo, Kali has the 2nd best Mexican food after Baja. So there’s that.

 

I would think that the plant that has the greatest amount of money invested would produce the greatest quality of products. Provided that money is invested in production where it has a positive impact on the overall product.

Green facilities, PTO, and moving production to regions with the cheapest labor. Do not make for a better product.

 

ok Private Cowboy…we get it you’re offended that someone doesn’t like Texas. Mang, thought yous guys had thicker skin.

I have (grew up in PA)….pfffft there are assholes everywhere. At least it is somewhat pretty back there, Texas is just a shithole geographically speaking. Then toss on oppressive heat & humidity, no wonder the majority of people I meet from there are dicks. Not much private land either, then they want to go to other states and privatized theirs. The Wilks Brothers have come here and bought a lot up, tossing up gates on public lands. Have plenty of reasons not to like the state and it’s people. If Taco Rancher really wants to hear rude I can get into it deeper…

 

It’s funny that you think it’s appropriate to slam an entire group of people and their home and get confused when said people become irritated and push back on your rudeness. That doesn’t make me a dick. The dick is the person who, unprovoked, starts ripping on people they don’t know. It’s like going to a party and announcing “anyone from state X, your state is a shithole and you’re also egotistical assholes and dicks”—and then someone at the party, from that state, calls you out on your rudeness and then you say “see! They ARE dicks!”… How you’re unable to understand this is perplexing, but you’re likely just small minded. Regardless of where you’re from, I am sure there are nice folks there. I don’t generalize or attack people I haven’t met. Good day.

 

You do realize you aren’t helping your case? lol! You must of missed where I said “a lot of egotistical assholes…” didn’t say all. Though they way you’re reacting, maybe they all are.

I don’t give a shit about what people think about where I live or the people who live here, that’s the difference between you and me. Hell, it is mostly full of racist rednecks, have heard that Idaho is considered the Mississippi of the PNW, which I find hilarious! Wouldn’t live here it wasn’t for the beauty and world class outdoor rec.

 

You're right. I “must of” missed that. Next time I’ll ignore ignorant comments. In many ways, this is entirely my fault. Cheers. Also, Idaho is absolutely beautiful even though it’s got a few dicks in the population.

 

Like for sure! Oh I am a total dick, and proud of it! lol! That is the best part of being a middle age man ya get to the point in life of zero fucks given.

So you’re a rancher? Thought yous guys were supposed to be tough? Or is that just a facade? Of course most country music is a bunch of rednecks crying their beer…

 

Cool. I don’t really listen to country music. My parents are immigrants. I live near a major downtown area. And I happen to own rural land. Funny how stereotypes don’t always pan out. I’m a weekend warrior, 100%. Not trying to pretend I’m tough or a real rancher. I’m clearly not that tough if I let someone like you bother me so much. Anyway, I’ve had enough of this back and forth nonsense. Feel free to insult me as much as you like. I’ve got better things to pay attention to.

 

Ya know I was just teasing ya….geesh. We are all descendants from immigrants, even Native Americans. Obviously you’re not listening to you’re own advice. You’re the one that keeps egging me on, so I’ll keep firing back. No idea why you’re being sensitive over someone not liking where you choose to live. Is it that Texas pride thing, are you one of those easily offended millennials, or what? Serious question, not trying to be a dick. My wife is a professor, they have to take sensitivity training because the younger folks today are more emotional. Like I said I have no allegiance to any state and rather be nomadic.

 

Not a millennial. A little older (Gen X). I just think these kinds of comments get very tiring for me and I’ve reached my limit. Lots of kind, amazing people in Texas and one of the most diverse places on the planet. It’s been good to me. But you’re right, you’re free to hate it. Also, in general, I try to approach every person and situation with positivity. And it usually works well. When I’m met with overwhelming negativity after having done nothing to attract it, it strikes a nerve. In any event, I’m not mad. It’s fine. But I’d like to drop the subject. Thanks.

 

I see this thread devolved has most of these "which plant builds a better truck" threads do. Took a couple of pages longer since Cali and Texas are no longer "options".

So the real reason Toyota moved all of it's Tacoma production to Mexico was all about logistics and business.

#1 The Sequoia and Tundra share a lot of DNA....always have. Production of those vehicles used to be in the same Indiana plant (TMMI). But Toyota wanted more Tundra production than Indiana could provide and decided to open up the San Antonio plant (TMMTX). In turn, this freeded up production capacity for TMMI to take on the Highlander....something Toyota had wanted for sometime...but with Tundra, Sequoia and Sienna production, wasn't possible.

Originally, Taco production was to be split between Freemont California (NUMMI) and Baja (TMMBC). However, during the Great Resession GM pulled out of NUMMI....ending all of the Toyota produced and rebranded GM products. There was no viability left for Toyota to remain at NUMMI. They paid the GM workers a severance package (something that GM got out of via the bankruptcy), basically gave Telsa the facility in exchange for battery technology, and moved Taco production to TMMTX because that plant was running well below it's ideal capacity, as many plants were during that time frame. And since NUMMI also produced the Corolla, they opened a plant in Mississippi to supplement Canada's Corolla production.

Fast forward a few years....it was now time for Toyota to bring the new Tundra on line. This was also the time to move Sequoia production to TMMTX where it belongs. Toyota only likes to move vehicle production from one plant to another during a major model change. In order to do this, something had to give.....that being Taco production. Taco production in Texas was never going to be permanent. Toyota has been planning increasing Tundra production and adding Sequoia production to TMMTX for many years. Not a single Texan has lost a job due to this.

Toyota has an extensive parts supply chain setup in the southern US and Mexico. It only makes sense to take advantage of that chain and continue to supply Mexico with parts. From a business standpoint, a 2nd Mexican plant was prudent decision.

Now that the Sequoia is leaving TMMI, that allows Toyota to drastically increase Highlander, Highlander Hybrid and Sienna Hybrid production which is something they badly want in N. America. In this case, TMMI actually added several hundred jobs.

Toyota will continue to look many years ahead in terms of when and where vehicles will be produced. They have the experience and capability to be flexible.

And for those who might not like the idea of a vehicle not assembled in The States? This isn't 1950 anymore. We live in a global economy. What's "American" and what's not was blurred many years ago. Rest assured, that many of the components that go into Tacoma production still come from The States. For example, your 2GR engine came from Alabama or Kentucky and a host of other components by way of American hands.

 

Wow. Very helpful and detailed information. Much appreciated. I think toyota knows what they’re doing.

 

Toyota probably won't sell more than 200,000 Tacomas this year. They haven't sold 90,000 as of the end of May. Toyota figure this out earlier this year. I wouldn't say they don't know what they are doing, but they can't be happy with those numbers. Sure supply chain issues, and gas prices can be attributed to those numbers, but that does not change the numbers. It's all profit that can not be recouped.

 

It’s also possible they are making so much more per taco that their profits are even higher.

 

Doubt it, they may be making more per unit but not enough to have a higher profit margin. I can't recall, but I thought Toyota said profits were down across their entire global line up. But we are talking Tacoma, but I doubt they are making more money with selling less trucks at a higher price.

It would be interesting to see what the numbers are.

 

I am Gen X too. Don’t see how not liking a particular place/people is being negative, quite the opposite. Avoid places/people that bring one down, that is being positive. You only think it is negative because you don’t like my opinion. Plenty of states that I avoid, mainly because of weather and/or terrain. Grown to not like people in general so don’t feel targeted, so try to avoid them the best I can on my down time. Why I like Idaho can get away from the crowds quite easily.

Used to be a people person, but people ruin it… lol! Guess that comes from working with the public for the last 25 or so years. The number one thing I hear people complain about is other people…

 

Wondering if you have insight into this. So I’ve noticed the base model Tacomas without the tech package are coming out of TMMGT but the tech package and higher trims are coming out of Baja. Do you think this is essentially a ramping up strategy to get TMMGT to be the primary producer or are they intentionally keeping the plants focused on different trucks? And is Baja staying or will it be retired as a higher cost Mexican plant?