Area Development
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama began construction on its $80 million, 300,000-square-foot, expansion to its Huntsville, Alabama plant, which is expected to add about 125 employees to its 1,150 member workforce.

Plant expansion will be utilized to increase production of the automaker's 3.5-litre V6 engines used to mainly power its Highlander model by about 146,000 additional units. According to Toyota officials, a new 300,000 square foot building will be constructed at its Cottonvalley Drive plant. Increased production will begin in March 2014.

The Alabama facility currently assembles 4-cylinder, V6 and V8 engines for eight of 12 Toyota North American built vehicles, making it the only Toyota plant globally to produce these three types of engines in one facility.

Jim Bolte, president of Toyota's Alabama addition said the company is "proud to announce our fourth expansion, only a few months after celebrating 10 years of success in Huntsville and Madison County," said Jim Bolte, President of Toyota's Alabama Division. He added this expansion "wouldn't be possible without continued commitment from our outstanding team members and support from our community partners."

This investment will increase engine production at the Huntsville plant to more than 700,000 annually, and will increase total Toyota engine production in the U.S. to more than 1.4 million per year. Toyota also builds engines in Kentucky and West Virginia.

"Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama has been a dedicated corporate citizen in Alabama for more than ten years," said Governor Robert Bentley, when the expansion was first announced. He added the announcement marks "an exciting new chapter for this company and this community. Toyota's success in Alabama is a testament to the hard-working men and women of the production and leadership teams who have dedicated themselves to producing quality products."

"This expansion is also a testament to the business climate we've worked hard to create in Alabama, a climate in which companies are encouraged to expand, innovate, and create new jobs. We thank Toyota for the company's continued confidence in Alabama and Huntsville, and we look forward to a continued long-term relationship," he added.