In what was the last Detroit Three segment the Japanese hadn’t assaulted, 20 years ago the original plant to build the Toyota Tundra full-size pickup truck opened in Princeton, Indiana. It now makes the Sienna minivan, a segment now abandoned by Ford and GM, the Sequoia full-size SUV and Highlander and Highlander Hybrid midsize SUVs.
In an ironic twist that saw Detroit Three automakers demanding that offshore makers build here, Toyota Indiana – staffed now with 5,000 non-UAW union workers – has built 4.45 million vehicles that are selling, and selling well, in the Detroit Three’s most profitable segments.
According to Norm Bafunno, the plant’s president, workers say it was during the tough times that people saw Toyota’s commitment. Idle for three months during the 2008 Great Recession, Toyota Indiana paid all of its workers by opening classrooms and teaching them skills needed for the future. Bafunno said “those skills are still used today and help propel the plant forward.” Team members were also given the option to volunteer at local non-profits and be paid by Toyota.
Scorecard – Toyota Indiana from 1996
- $4.3 billion investment in the operation
- 24,058 jobs in Indiana (including direct, intermediate and spin-off employment)
- 29 top vehicle picks by Consumer Reports
- 11 J.D. Power Initial Quality Awards and 16 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Awards
- 265,000 volunteer hours donated by team members and $23 million in donations to area groups
- 3 expansions
- Exports of vehicles to 27 countries
“From the first Tundra produced to the current vehicle line-up, we are proud of the accomplishments of the Toyota Indiana team members,” said Osamu “Simon” Nagata, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Toyota Motor North America. “It is clear the plant has a long and bright future ahead.”
