Toyota to expand RAV4 production to Cambridge

Toyota has announced that it will extend production of the RAV4 to its Cambridge North Assembly Plant in Ontario, starting in 2019. In addition to locations in the Far East, the RAV4 is currently built for the North American market at the company's plant in nearby Woodstock, ON. The expansion will mean a "significant new investment" to be injected into the Cambridge plant to prepare for the arrival of the new model, including the new hybrid variant (pictured above).

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada is one of the few automakers currently increasing its production across our northern border. It currently handles assembly of RAV4 at its Woodstock plant, the Corolla at Cambridge North, and became the first location outside of Japan to produce Lexus vehicles when it began producing the RX crossover at Cambridge South back in 2003.

Adding the RAV4 to the North plant at Cambridge will require TMMC to adapt to Toyota's New Global Architecture, including production of the vehicles to be based on it and the new manufacturing processes that will come along with it as well. The current RAV4 has been on the market since 2013. By 2019, it will be six years old and about ready for replacement with the fifth-generation model. So we expect that will be the one which Toyota will introduce to the Cambridge plant. Show full PR text TOYOTA TO BUILD RAV4S IN ITS CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO PLANT

Cambridge, Nov. 10, 2015 -- Toyota announced today that it will produce RAV4 vehicles in its Cambridge North Assembly plant starting in 2019. With Lexus RX in Cambridge, and Toyota RAV4 in Woodstock and Cambridge, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) will become a North American hub for sport utility vehicles. The company also announced that it will be adding hybrid RAV4 production.

"The RAV4 and the RAV4 hybrid are great products for TMMC," commented Toyota Motor North America Chief Executive Officer Jim Lentz. "RAV4 is a leader in the fastest growing segment of the North American auto industry. We forecast that the segment will continue to demonstrate strong growth with the RAV4 being a major player." Mr. Lentz also explained that "producing additional RAV4s, a more upscale, more complex, higher content vehicle, fits well with TMMC's well-earned reputation for quality."

To accommodate the change, the Cambridge North Plant will receive significant new investment, including the introduction of Toyota's New Global Architecture (TNGA). TNGA is an innovative, integrated approach to developing and building vehicles, involving new production equipment and new processes.

TMMC President, Brian Krinock explained that "with a new platform and the latest technology, TMMC will have the flexibility to respond to the evolving needs of the automotive marketplace." He also said that "bringing TNGA to Canada will propel us to the next generation of automotive manufacturing and provide the basis for our longstanding commitment to employment stability." Mr. Krinock also observed that "when we implement this project in 2019, we will have been making vehicles in Canada for thirty years. This investment will revitalize our plant and create the foundation for our future success."

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. manufactures the Toyota Corolla, RAV4, Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h vehicles and is the first plant outside of Japan to build a Lexus vehicle. The company employs more than 8,000 Team Members at three manufacturing plants in Ontario, Canada. Featured Gallery2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
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