The Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association has named Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama its 2020 Supplier of the Year.
“Toyota’s incredible response throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has gone above and beyond to address the situation, develop plans and quickly adapt to change,” said Ron Davis, president of AAMA. “They engaged with their peers from across the globe to develop creative solutions to ensure a safe work environment for employees. Toyota then shared this knowledge across the state to help schools and businesses also prepare for return.”
The Huntsville plant currently produces approximately 700,000 engines per year, supplying Toyota vehicle assembly plants across North America with 4-cylinder, V6 and V8 engines. In 2021, the production at the facility is set to increase to 900,000 engines per year upon completion of the plant’s latest expansion, bringing its total investment to $1.2 billion.
During the pandemic, Toyota worked to support local healthcare facilities and first responders by producing and distributing 10,000 commercial grade face shields.
“Our ability to produce face shields in mass quantities is a testament to our incredibly skilled workforce and passion for sharing knowledge to meet community needs,” said Larry Deutscher, Toyota Alabama general manager of manufacturing support. Toyota Alabama currently employs approximately 1,100 team members.
Toyota also recently launched a virtual education hub at TourToyota.com to help inspire the next generation for a career in STEM-based fields. Included on the hub is a series of STEM-based lessons and curriculum for teachers produced through Toyota USA Foundation and virtual field trips of several of Toyota’s plants, including the engine plant in Alabama.