Toyota's Alabama Plant to Ramp Up Engine-Production Capacity

RACINE, WIS. (05/29/2012)(readMedia)-- As part of its global plan to produce more vehicles in the areas that they are sold, Toyota recently announced that it will increase engine-production capacity at its Huntsville, Ala. manufacturing plant. The move will help meet an increase in U.S. demand for vehicles like the Toyota Avalon, Camry and Highlander, as the Alabama factory will begin producing the 3.5-liter V6 engine found in each model's lineup.

With a current annual production capacity of 506,000 engines, Toyota's Alabama plant will increase that number by 216,000 units starting in March 2014, bringing its new capacity up to 722,000 engines a year. To accommodate that growth in production, Toyota says it will be building a new 300,000-square-foot facility and adding 125 jobs at its Huntsville property.

"The Toyota Camry has seen a big jump in sales since its redesign last year, and Toyota expects the same when the all-new Avalon arrives this fall, so it is staying ahead of the curve," said Kevin Galley, Sales Manager of Gentile Toyota, a Toyota dealership in Wisconsin. "The Alabama production announcement is in addition to the company's existing plans for expansion in Indiana, West Virginia and Kentucky, meaning Toyota is not only bringing more jobs to America; it is bringing them to different states as well."

In addition to ramping up production in the United States, Toyota has also been giving more influence to its American designers recently. During a keynote at the WardsAuto Interiors Conference earlier this month, the automaker's U.S. design chief said that Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda has granted the American team more freedom and responsibility since taking over the company in 2009.

A prime example of Toyota's new American-led styling is the 2013 Avalon that debuted at the 2012 New York International Auto Show in April. Donning a more aggressive exterior, the 2013 Toyota Avalon's bold new look features a lowered beltline, a sloping roofline and a wider grille. Meanwhile, flared front fenders and new Double-eye Projector Ellipsoid System headlamps hint that Toyota's highway cruiser can do much more than cruise when it needs to.

Underneath its sheet metal, the 2013 Toyota Avalon matches its athletic new stance with agile performance. Toyota's premium midsize sedan can be switched between three drive modes, including Normal mode, a Sport mode for increasing throttle response and an Eco mode that maximizes fuel economy. Toyota was also able to improve the new Avalon's handling and stability thanks to a new suspension and improvements to its chassis.

"The 2013 Avalon is still built for the upmost comfort on longer highway trips, but it will also be a lot more fun to take on back roads with its revised chassis and suspension," added Galley. "And, thanks to the hard work of Toyota's U.S. design team, the Avalon's aggressive new styling is going to make it look faster even when it's sitting in the driveway."

About Gentile Toyota:

Committed to the goal of total customer care, Gentile Toyota treats their patrons to a no-hassle car-buying experience, featuring a large inventory of new and used Toyotas at their state-of-the-art facility. Their Racine, Wisconsin Toyota dealership also offers a fully stocked and expertly staffed service and parts department, so that local Toyota drivers can get in and get back on the road quickly. Visit them at 6801-B Washington Ave. in Racine or call 866-994-9832 to schedule a test drive or service appointment. They can also be found online at www.gentiletoyota.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GentileToyota.