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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Nov. 16, 2018)— Today in Huntsville, the first shovel of dirt was turned on what will become a jointly owned-and-operated automotive production plant that will have the capacity to build 300,000 vehicles a year, beginning in 2021. Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc. (MTMUS) is expected to create 4,000 jobs, with a $1.6 billion investment split by the two companies.

The plant will build Toyota’s Corolla, whose all-new 2020 model was unveiled yesterday in California, and Mazda’s yet-to-be revealed crossover model.

“We are proud to be here with Toyota, with whom we share the bond of pride in manufacturing,” said Kiyotaka Shobuda, Mazda’s senior managing executive officer. “We are proud to be breaking ground on a new ‘home’ here in Huntsville – a city that believes in the possibilities of technology and manufacturing, and has striven to realize mankind’s greatest dream.”

The alliance will assure competitiveness in manufacturing, allowing both automakers to respond quickly to market changes and helping to ensure sustainable growth toward the future of mobility.

“It is extremely special to have a partner like Mazda to team up with not only to make the highest-quality cars, but also to create a plant that team members are proud to call their own,” said Jim Lentz, chief executive officer, Toyota Motor North America. “As we’ve seen at our Huntsville engine plant, Alabamians are a proud, talented, hard-working group. We are excited to continue our deep investment in the U.S. and Alabama and see nothing but a bright future.”

FUELING FUTURE WORKFORCE

As part of today’s groundbreaking, MTMUS donated $750,000 to support STEM-related programs that will encourage and motivate students to pursue a career in the advanced manufacturing field. With 4,000 jobs to fill, MTMUS is committed to investing in developing its future workforce in collaboration with local educators and economic development partners.  The donation includes:

• $500,000 to the Huntsville Madison County Chamber Foundation to launch a new career exploration online platform that will help highlight careers in manufacturing to students, build skills and connect job seekers to opportunities. The goal is to work with local school systems and promote this tool as a resource for career coaches and teachers.
• $250,000 to be split between six school districts in Madison County, Limestone County and Morgan County. Support is aimed at STEM or career technical programs that align with advanced manufacturing. The schools include:
  • Huntsville City Schools
  • Madison County Schools
  • Madison City Schools
  • Limestone County Schools
  • Decatur City Schools
  • Morgan County Schools

In addition, the Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc. donated:

• $50,000 to Boys & Girls Club of North Alabama
• $50,000 to Food Bank of North Alabama
• $20,000 to Greater Huntsville Humane Society

“Not only is Mazda Toyota Manufacturing providing high-paying jobs, they are investing heavily in our future workforce. This will not only benefit them, but also other manufacturers in the area,” said Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey.  “One thing I’ve learned with Toyota being in our state is that they care for the communities where they do business – it is, after all, their home, too.  And they prove it every day. We are lucky to have Mazda Toyota expanding in Alabama.”

About Mazda
Mazda Motor Corporation, based in Hiroshima, Japan, was established in 1920, and became a vehicle manufacturer in 1931, when it began producing three-wheeled trucks. Mazda began selling vehicles in North America 50 years ago, this year, with the establishment of affiliate companies in Canada (Mazda Canada, Inc.) in 1968, in the United States (Mazda Motor of America, d/b/a Mazda North American Operations) in 1970, and in Mexico (Mazda Motor de Mexico) in 2006. Currently, Mazda does business in more than 130 countries around the world, and produces vehicles in Japan, Mexico, China and Thailand. Building passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and crossover SUVs, with an emphasis on the driving experience and a focus on design, engineering and efficient manufacturing, the company sells more than 1.55 million vehicles annually.

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 36 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 47,000 people (more than 37,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2017 – and about 87 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15 years are still on the road today.  

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

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Contact:
Kim Ogle – 256-714-3633
Tamara Mlynarczyk – 202-467-5092