HUNTSVILLE, AL – Toyota marked the start of four-cylinder engine production at its Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama, Inc. (TMMAL) plant earlier this week. TMMAL-produced four-cylinder engines will go into the all-new 2012 Camry, Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Venza. V-6 and V-8 engines are being produced for the Tundra and Tacoma pickup trucks and the Sequoia SUV. 

Toyota said the start of this production is part of its efforts to localize production of models slated for the North American market. The four-cylinder expansion at TMMAL now allows the facility to supply engines to every Toyota vehicle assembly plant in North America except the new facility in Blue Springs, Mississippi, which is scheduled to start production this fall, according to Toyota.

“TMMAL’s team members’ focus on quality, safety and outstanding commitment to continuous improvement and team work is second-to-none,” said Toyota Motor Corporation Executive Vice President and Representative Director, Atsushi Niimi. “Engines now produced in Huntsville will go into eight Toyota models assembled in North America, furthering our commitment to localizing production. And by adding four-cylinder engines to TMMAL’s mix, we will be better prepared to react to changes in market demand.”

The addition of four-cylinder engine production boosts TMMAL’s employment to almost 1,000 and total investment to $637 million, according to the automaker. Total annual engine capacity of four-cylinder, V-6 and V-8 engines is now more than 500,000. TMMAL is the only Toyota plant globally to produce four cylinder, V-6, and V-8 engines, Toyota stated.