Toyota Tacoma to Hitch a Ride From the Lone Star State

by Steph Willems

Published: January 21st, 2020

toyota tacoma to hitch a ride from the lone star state

The perennially popular Toyota Tacoma will move all of its assembly south of the Rio Grande under a recently announced production switch-up.

When the ancient Sequoia full-size SUV enters a new generation, and along with it the Tundra pickup, it won’t stay at its present Princeton, Indiana home. Toyota plans to move Sequoia production southward to Texas, punting Tacoma output to a country that’s no stranger to the midsize pickup.

News of the production switcheroo came as Toyota announced the completion of the Indiana plant’s $1.3 billion modernization effort. There, production has already begun on the redesigned 2020 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid; the plant also handles the Sienna minivan and, until 2022, the body-on-frame Sequoia. Retooling for the next-gen Highlander carried a $700 million price tag.

Apparently, Toyota thought it best to boost efficiency by sending to next Sequoia to live with its platform mate, the Tundra, Automotive News reports. The inclusion of the Tacoma at the San Antonio plant came in 2010, as the automaker scrambled to eliminate excess capacity at its U.S. assembly plants. The economy’s in far better shape these days, and Toyota, while flush with cash, isn’t immune to cost-saving suggestions.

Once San Antonio gears up for the revamped Tundra and Sequoia, Tacoma production will move fully to Mexico. Two plants in that country — Guanajuato and Tijuana — already handle the bulk of the automaker’s Tacoma production.

While the Sequoia is an ancient thing, like the Tundra, it manages to sell in steady numbers to U.S. consumers, making its revamp a bottom-of-the-list concern for its parent company. Current-gen Sequoia production kicked off in late 2007, a year after the present Tundra. As for the Tacoma, the addition of the Ford Ranger to the midsize pickup scene in 2019 didn’t take much wind from its sales. Volume rose 1.3 percent for the year.

[Images: Toyota]

#Mexico #Production #Sequoia #Tacoma #Toyota #ToyotaSequoia #ToyotaTacoma #Trucks

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CKNSLS Sierra SLT on Jan 21, 2020

Toyota continues it's success with selling mediocre designed-ultra reliable vehicles. And no.....their market share for the Tundra will always be a dribble compared to the domestics. RAM taking over the number two spot from Chevy-yea Chevy deserved it-based on the awful design of the 2019 Silverado. With that being said Tundra will never break the hold on the top three makers/sellers of pickup trucks. Every review I have read for the Tacoma isn't flattering-at all. But (as stated in another post) the thing continues to sell.

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- Jon on Jan 21, 2020
  
  "Every review I have read for the Tacoma isn’t flattering-at all. But (as stated in another post) the thing continues to sell." One might conclude that the metrics with which that a journalist (non-consumer) reviews a truck are not the same metrics with which a consumer selects a truck to buy. In fact, the paid hotels, meals and long term loaner vehicles that the manufacturer provides for the journalist(s) of large well circulated publications might even have a liiiiiittle influence in the review of the truck.
  
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- Hummer on Jan 21, 2020
  
  @Jon The constant nashing of the teeth over Wrangler ride quality, pickup truck fuel economy, and supposedly “good cars that should be best sellers” shows the great divide that separates automotive journalists with real world consumers. The metrics that a journalist describe as positives and negatives of a vehicle couldn’t be further from the metrics consumers purchase vehicles. I truly believe most automotive journalists aren’t even automotive enthusiasts. Some truck reviews sound like they’re being compared to the M5 the journalist reviewed before the truck. Every “new” iteration of a vehicle is the greatest thing ever and the previous generation they once praised heavily, is now called “crap from the beginning”.
  
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- FreedMike on Jan 21, 2020
  
  @Hummer I agree. I tried a new Wrangler out a couple of weeks ago - it's not for me, but it's far from being unlivably rough or unrefined, even on the highway. It is what it is. If you're looking for something that rides like a Lexus, look elsewhere. FYI, I've seen all kinds of good reviews for the Wrangler and very little "tooth gnashing."
  
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- CKNSLS Sierra SLT on Jan 21, 2020
  
  JON- I assume you mean "GOOD INFLUENCE" with all the perks. I disagree-I have read many negative reviews about different vehicles over the years. But yes-I guess the perks could influence some to be more favorable.
  
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Dal20402 on Jan 21, 2020

People complain endlessly about the 3.5 as though it's a sin to rev an engine in a truck. Evidently none of them ever drove anything powered by a two-stroke Detroit Diesel; those were every bit as peaky. The wags always said: "Slam your hand in the window before you drive it so you'll be pissed off."

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