HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Workers at the Toyota Alabama plant recorded a production milestone Monday – the 4 millionth engine assembled at the Huntsville facility.
“It was an exciting day,” said Jim Bolte, president of Toyota Alabama. “This is a testament to our team members – they are dedicated to building high-quality engines. And, whether it was the first in 2003, or the 4 millionth, the same amount of detail and craftsmanship goes into each one.”
The milestone engine was produced on the 4-cylinder line at the Alabama plant, which also makes V6 and V8 engines. The facility, which employs 1,300 people, is one of the global automaker’s largest engine plants. It’s the only Toyota facility worldwide to produce all three engines under one roof.
2,500 ENGINES EACH DAY
In the last 10 years, the automaker’s Alabama plant has taken on five major investments and four expansions. Most recently, a project valued at $230 million was completed to boost to V6 production. The total plant investment is now $864 million.
“We look to the Alabama plant as a leader. Every challenge it has faced, the team there exceeds any, and all, expectations,” said Osamu Ushio, executive vice president of operations and manufacturing, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America. “That is why we continue to invest so much into the facility. They have what it takes to be successful – a strong group of team members who are dedicated to quality and safety.”
Nearly 2,500 engines are built each day at the Toyota plant, which has an annual production capacity of 710,000 engines. Toyota’s 3 millionth Alabama-made engine was produced in February 2014.
Here is a rundown on the plant and that 4 millionth engine:
- The Huntsville plant has built 1 million 4-cylinder engines, 1.3 million V6 engines and 1.7 million V8 engines.
- The engines go into seven Toyota vehicles built in North America: Camry, RAV4, Highlander, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra and Venza.
- Place the 4 million engines front to back and they would stretch from Huntsville to Las Vegas.
- The combined horsepower of 4 million engines reaches over 1 billion, which is enough output to launch 29 space shuttles.
Tina Lane, a Toyota Alabama team member who has been building engines on the line since the plant opened, said achieving the production milestone made her proud.
“Just think, 4 million Toyota vehicles around the world are being powered by our engines — that’s a big responsibility,” Lane said.
