Toyota is putting billions more into American manufacturing, the company has announced, with a $3.6 billion investment to expand its plant in San Antonio, Texas. The automaker says the money will go toward adding a second assembly line at the site, significantly increasing the plant's production footprint.
The company expects the expansion to create more than 2,000 jobs. The addition of a second line at the San Antonio plant marks one of the larger recent commitments by a carmaker to its US operations, and it is set to become a bigger production hub as a result.
As part of the move, Toyota is shifting production from Mexico to Texas. The decision brings work that had been carried out south of the border to the San Antonio facility, adding to the plant's role in the company's North American manufacturing network.
The new assembly line is expected to begin operating in 2030. That timeline means the full impact of the investment, including the new jobs and added production, will be phased in over the next several years as the expansion is built out.
The announcement adds to what has been a series of significant moves among many of the major automakers, several of which have been shifting or expanding their manufacturing plans. Toyota's investment is among the latest examples of carmakers putting money into US-based production.
For consumers, the big question raised by moves like this is whether they will eventually translate into lower prices at the dealership. While the expansion is aimed at boosting domestic production and jobs, it remains to be seen how such investments will affect what buyers ultimately pay for a new vehicle.