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Toyota Alabama donates to Huntville library
It was celebration time Friday in Huntsville, Alabama, United States of America, as Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama (TMMAL) marked a milestone – the production of over five million engines that have powered six Toyota vehicles built in North America over a 14-year period.
“Five million, that’s incredible. You just don’t think in those terms,” said Theodore Bridgeforth, a group leader and original team member who helped bring that first engine forth back in 2003. “It was special, seeing the first engine go from months of planning and design to actually coming off the line. And while we now make a lot more product, the same care and quality goes into each engine – that has not changed.”
Since the first V8 rolled off the line in Huntsville, the plant has added V6 and 4-cylinder lines, making it the only Toyota facility worldwide to have all three under one roof. The 5 millionth engine – a V6 – was the result of a $230 million investment in that line in 2014. In 15 years, the plant has expanded four times, multiplying employment from 300 to nearly 1,500 with a total investment of $864 million. In the U.S., Toyota directly and indirectly employs 136,000.
With 702,014 engines built in 2016 (a record breaking year), Toyota Alabama produces engines for the Camry, RAV4, Highlander, Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia. Those engines are shipped to three of Toyota’s assembly plants in the U.S. including operations in Indiana, Kentucky and Texas. The Alabama plant is part of Toyota’s nearly $22 billion investment in the U.S. to date. Over the next five years the company will invest an additional $10 billion in the U.S.
“On one hand it is hard to fathom we have built 5 million engines,” David Fernandes, plant president, said. “However, when you take into account the dedication and craftsmanship of our team members, it isn’t so hard to believe. They have met every challenge and continue to build an incredible product in a safe and efficient way.”
So what does five million engines really mean?
- That’s enough engines to supply just about every vehicle registered in Alabama.
- If each engine powered a vehicle 200,000 miles, the 5 million engines would go from the earth to the sun and back over 5,000 times.
- 5 million engines equals the weight of three Empire State Buildings.
- Lined up, the 5 million engines would stretch from Huntsville to Los Angeles.
Really, that’s a true Hollywood story.
And to celebrate the milestone, Toyota Alabama donated $50,000 to the Huntsville Library Foundation, supporting the North Huntsville Library project.
