Toyota Sequoia and Tundra Now Texans

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Toyota (NYSE:TM) started of production for the all-new, all-hybrid Toyota Sequoia SUV today at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas. Gen 3 of the full-size Tundra-pickup-based Sequoia abandons the Princeton, Indiana plant, aka TMMI, where the body-on frame Tundra was also built from November 2007 until January 2022. (AutoInformed on: First 2022 Toyota Tundra Built in Texas)*

Sequoia SUV is all-hybrid with a twin-turbo V6 hybrid i-FORCE Max powertrain rated at 437 horsepower, 583 lb.-ft. of torque. It was first used on Tundra. The i-FM has a motor generator within the bell housing between the twin-turbo engine and the 10-speed automatic transmission. Sequoia’s fuel economy ratings are a ~7-8 mpg improvement compared to the old V8 engine: Two-wheel-drive Sequoia – 21 miles per gallon in the city, 24 on the highway and 22 combined. Four-wheel-drive are rated or predicted at 19 mpg city, 22 highway, 20 combined. Those numbers are the same regardless of trim.

The three-row SUV part of the large-size SUV segment will appear at dealerships in October with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Pricing (MSRP) starting at $58,300. To maximize profits, Sequoia launches with the Capstone grade, a premium collection of items that so far is exclusive to vehicles manufactured at Toyota Texas.

In 2019 Toyota announced a $391 million investment in Toyota Texas, which meant Gen 3 Tundra and Sequoia will be built exclusively in Texas. The Sequoia – Toyota said – is the latest advanced manufacturing development at Toyota Texas, where more than 3,800 Toyota employees and 5,300 on-site suppliers spent thousands of hours preparing for its debut. The team incorporated new manufacturing techniques, such as innovative laser welding technology and a modified production process to stamp the largest sheet of metal in Toyota history.

To commemorate the Sequoia’s new home, Toyota Texas donated a combined $100,000 to the San Antonio River Foundation and the San Antonio Parks Foundation. The donations will support the proliferation and preservation of trees, and environmental stewardship initiatives on the south side of San Antonio. Toyota’s total investment in San Antonio is now more than $3.1 billion.

*AutoInformed.com on

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• First 2022 Toyota Tundra Built in Texas
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