California
plant marks golden anniversary with $200,000 in community donations
LONG
BEACH, Calif., Sept. 22,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- It all started in 1972 when
Toyota announced its first manufacturing investment in North America. Today the automaker's
Long Beach, California operation,
TABC, Inc., celebrated 50 years of paving the way for Toyota to
become a gold standard in advanced manufacturing.
Building on five decades of quality, TABC is a primary supplier
of parts for Tacoma trucks and produces past model service body
parts for all North American produced Toyota vehicles.
"For 50 years, the team at TABC has played an integral role in
our company's success, providing parts and components for our
vehicles," said Chris Nielsen,
executive vice president, Product Support and chief quality
officer, Toyota North America. "So, it is great to celebrate all
they have accomplished, and we look forward to their continuing
leadership in providing quality products for our customers."
Celebrating with the Community
As part of its anniversary celebration, Toyota officials
announced $200,000 in community
investments to be split among seven nonprofit organizations,
including:
- American Red Cross
- Boys and Girls Club of Long
Beach
- California State University of Long
Beach
- California Conference for Equality and Justice
- Children Today
- Long Beach Chamber of
Commerce
- U.S. Vets
In addition to the community investments, Toyota donated two
vehicles to Rancho Los Alamitos and the Long Beach Ronald McDonald
House.
"Toyota cares deeply about being a responsible member of society
and improving our local communities," said TABC president
Jim Zehmer. "It is fitting for us to
mark our 50th anniversary by celebrating our employees that make
all of this possible and by reaffirming our ties to the community
with these contributions."
Growing with Toyota
TABC, originally known as Atlas Fabricators, contracted with
Toyota in 1972 to assemble truck beds for vehicles destined for the
U.S. Two years later, Toyota purchased the operation and ultimately
renamed it "TABC, Inc.," making it Toyota's first manufacturing
investment in the U.S.
In March 2022, the operation
announced an investment of $27
million to support an increase in production capabilities.
Currently, the plant employs approximately 350 people and
represents a $485 million
investment.
Toyota continues to grow its presence in North America. Today, it directly employs
nearly 48,000 people, with $40.78
billion invested in its North American operations. The
company's newest plant, Toyota Battery Manufacturing North
Carolina, is scheduled to begin production of lithium-ion batteries
for hybrid electric and battery electric vehicles beginning in
2025.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of
the cultural fabric in North
America for more than 60 years, and is committed to
advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota
and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800
dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in
North America who have contributed
to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars
and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota's 14th
plant in North Carolina will begin
to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With
more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker,
more than a quarter of the company's 2021 North American sales were
electrified.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights
the way it partners with community, civic, academic and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move,
anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit
www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
Media Contact:
Justin
Posey
Cell: 469-292-8839
justin.posey@toyota.com
Christine Henley
Cell: 310-347-1536
christine.henley@toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America