The Japanese automaker, Toyota de México, confirmed to the Ministry of Economy the investment of 1.45 billion dollars for the sustainable modernization of its manufacturing plants in Baja California and Guanajuato that will manufacture the new generation of its Tacoma hybrid pickup model, where Mexico is responsible for exporting this unit to North America.
Toyota’s announcement becomes the first automotive investment in the government of Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, who promised to promote electromobility in Mexico.
However, it also coincides with the triumph of Donald Trump as president of the United States, who has threatened Mexico with applying tariffs to vehicles if it does not stop migration and even if it is proven that the steel or aluminum comes from China.
When Toyota executives met privately with the Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, the Japanese company specified that the 1.45 billion dollars are destined for the production of the new generation of the Tacoma pickup and Tacoma hybrid electric (HEV), strengthening Toyota’s operations in the country.
“At Toyota, we believe in Mexico and in the importance of investments for the economic, environmental and social development of the country. With this announcement, Toyota has achieved the investment of more than 3 billion dollars in Mexico, a country that is essential for the regional competitiveness of North America,” said Luis Lozano, president of Toyota Motor de México.
For his part, Marcelo Ebrard said that “the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum is committed to providing certainty and confidence to investors, and promoting, through investment, development with well-being in the country. We will continue working as she has asked us to attract more investment and generate quality jobs.”
Through a statement, Toyota reported that with this investment, which adds to the nearly 2 billion dollars it has made during 22 years of presence in Mexico, Toyota strengthens its productive capacity, including the manufacturing of electrified vehicles.
The modernization of the plants for the production of this new generation of Tacoma will not only boost the production of more efficient and sustainable vehicles, but also allows for the integration of innovations that optimize resource consumption, as well as the reduction of CO2 emissions.
Also participating in the meeting were Takaaki Kuga, Vice President of Enterprise Strategy Mexico, and Lizette Gracida, Senior Director of External Relations and Foreign Trade of Toyota Mexico, as well as Ximena Escobedo, Head of the Strategy and Institutional Organization Unit of the Ministry of Economy.
Source: eleconomista
