Yesterday, Toyota announced that it will gradually transfer production of the Tacoma pickup truck from its Tijuana, Baja California plant to San Antonio, Texas. This move is part of a restructuring of its North American manufacturing operations, which, while reducing production of the model in Mexico toward the end of the decade, does not imply a complete withdrawal of its operations from the country.
The news gained traction after the automaker announced a $3.6 billion investment to expand its manufacturing complex in San Antonio , where it will build a second assembly line to produce the Tacoma along with the Tundra and Sequoia models.
The project will add 2,000 new jobs, double the size of the Texas plant by 2030, and allow the transition of production from Baja California to take place gradually over approximately four years.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy (SE) reported that Toyota notified the Mexican government that the relocation of Tacoma production from Tijuana will not be immediate, but will conclude in 2030, while the company continues to evaluate the future of that facility once the process is completed.
As part of the talks between the company and the federal government, the agency highlighted that Toyota confirmed the continued operation of its plant in Apaseo el Grande, Guanajuato , which generates 2,800 direct jobs and thousands more indirectly in the region.
The announcement seeks to send a signal of continuity for Toyota’s operations in Mexico, at a time when the North American automotive industry is adjusting its production capacity to respond to demand, strengthen regional integration, and adapt to a trade environment marked by the review of the USMCA and new industrial policies in the United States.
In its statement, Toyota emphasized that the Texas expansion reflects its confidence in the growth of the North American market and will allow for increased manufacturing flexibility through new technologies.
The company also reiterated its commitment to its operations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while calling for a swift resolution of issues related to the USMCA in order to strengthen the region’s competitiveness.
The investment will raise to $8.3 billion the amount allocated by Toyota to its San Antonio complex since it began operations in 2003.
Toyota’s footprint in Mexico
Toyota maintains two manufacturing complexes in Mexico. The Tijuana, Baja California plant began operations in 2004 and currently produces the Tacoma pickup for various North American markets.
Meanwhile, the Apaseo el Grande plant in Guanajuato, inaugurated in 2019, also assembles the Tacoma and Tacoma hybrid electric, representing one of the company’s most important investments in the country during the last decade.
Together, both facilities are part of Toyota’s regional production strategy and primarily supply the North American market, solidifying Mexico as a key link in the Japanese automaker’s supply chain.
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