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July 16, 2003
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This Week:

• GM India Launches Chevrolet Optra

• VW Beetle: Production of the "Última Edición" starts

• Dodge Caravan and Disney's "The Lion King: Special Edition"; The King of the Minivan Celebrates the King of DVDs

• Gov. Riley Announces Major Expansion of Toyota Manufacturing Facilities In Huntsville/Madison County Alabama Area

• BMW Group establishes sales subsidiary in Malaysia

• Ford Names J Mays Group Vice President of Design

• Porsche(R) GT3 Launches on Michelin Pilot Sport Tires

• Valeo secures first multi-million euro contract for new Mechanical Multi-Exchanger

• LEONI in the starting blocks for large-scale GM contract

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Gov. Riley Announces Major Expansion of Toyota Manufacturing Facilities In Huntsville/Madison County Alabama Area
 

Birmingham, AL - Gov. Bob Riley joined with officials from Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama on Monday to announce an historic major expansion of the company's facility currently located in the Huntsville/Madison County area. "In May, I traveled to Huntsville to celebrate the completion of the first Toyota V8 engine ever produced outside of Japan, and now, just two months later, we are celebrating a major expansion of that very same facility," Riley said. "This expansion is not only a testament to the success and ingenuity of our friends at Toyota, it's a direct result of the work ethic, pride and dedication of the citizens of Alabama."

Toyota's expansion will include an additional investment of $20 million in its Alabama facility and will add 150 new jobs, a figure that raises the facility's total workforce to approximately 500 employees. The additional investment will allow Toyota to produce 130,000 Alabama-made V-6 Tacoma and Tundra pickup engines and bring its total production to 250,000 engines per year.

With the new expansion, Toyota has invested $240 million in Alabama since announcing its location in the state.

Toyota executive Haruaki Hoshino credited support from community leaders and plant employees alike for the rapid and impressive expansion.

"Today's announcement reflects the high performance and quality of our Alabama plant," said Hoshino, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama. "I attribute this expansion to our hard working team members and the tremendous support from the Huntsville/Madison County community."

Toyota Motor North America, Senior Vice President Dennis Cuneo said the newly-expanded facility will play a major role in the future of Toyota's truck manufacturing and marketing in the United States.

"The V6 engine is critical to Toyota's growing North American truck market," Cuneo said. "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to expand in Alabama."

(July 14, 2003)