WOODSTOCK, Ont. – Toyota Canada’s manufacturing division will invest $80 million to increase production at its Woodstock, Ont. assembly plant, a move it says will create some 400 new jobs.
The Canadian manufacturing arm of the Japanese automaker says it will ramp up production of its RAV4 crossover vehicles to 200,000 vehicles at the plant by early 2013.
That’s an increase from the current annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles.
“We are optimistic that the market is coming back and we’re grateful for the strong sales of the RAV4 in the North American market, which has created this increase in production and jobs,” said TMMC Chairman Ray Tanguay.
Get breaking National news
The company has already announced that the first Toyota electric vehicle to be built in North America, the RAV4 EV, will be made in Woodstock beginning this year.
Representatives from both the Federal and Provincial governments praised Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada for helping to keep the Canadian automotive industry strong.
“Our Government welcomes the news of increased production at Toyota’s Woodstock plant, and congratulates the company on the success of the RAV 4,” said the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry.
“Together, Toyota’s Canadian plants represent one of the company’s largest, most successful manufacturing operations in the world, leading to jobs and growth in those communities and for Canadians,” he said.
Toyota has faced problems in Asia, where last year’s earthquake and tsunami, and massive flooding in Thailand cut parts supplies and slowed down their global output, even in Canada.
The company began its Canadian operations in 1986 in the southwestern Ontario city of Cambridge and employs about 65-hundred Canadians.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.