A new truck rolls off the line every 60 seconds at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (TMMTX). This efficiency and speed are a result of hard work and dedication from “Team Texas” — comprised of 3,200 employees who assemble Tundras and Tacomas, as well as the more than 20 on-site suppliers that employ an additional 4,000 people.
TMMTX broke ground in San Antonio in 2003 and began operations in 2006. The automaker purchased 2,678 acres of ranchland, with a legacy dating back to 1794. To establish greenspace along Leon Creek and the Medina River, which borders the property on two sides, Toyota donated 678 acres of land to the city.
The donation is just one of the many environmental commitments Toyota has made to the area over the years. Solar panels at TMMTX help offset the power consumed in the plant to reduce carbon. The solar devices generate about 4.5 million kilowatt-hours of energy each year. TMMTX has been a zero-waste facility since 2013 and works together with an on-site supplier to recycle wood pallets, cardboard and metal. And the plant supports biodiversity through a partnership with the San Antonio Zoo to reintroduce the Texas horned lizard to a native habitat on campus. There’s also a thriving pollinator garden to attract bees, butterflies, and bats right outside the plant’s Experience Center.
Toyota’s investment in the community extends to developing future employees, through a focus on STEM education and workforce development. Since 2009, TMMTX has partnered with the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to teach middle school boys and girls from underserved neighborhoods about STEM careers. The plant has also collaborated with the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce since 2017 to bring the Alamo City Electrathon, or ACE Race, to life. Student teams design and race their single-passenger electric car with a car kit donated by Toyota. With more than 15 teams competing, young learners receive hands-on experience building a motor vehicle.
While the San Antonio plant is planning for upcoming generations, it’s also preparing for the future of manufacturing. TMMTX is currently shifting gears to focus exclusively on full-size body-on-frame vehicles including the Tundra and Sequoia. The transformation is expected to be completed by 2022.
Learn more about TMMTX here.