More than 25 years ago, ground was broken on a 1,300-acre tract of farmland in Scott County that now is home to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK), Toyota’s largest manufacturing facility outside of Japan – employing nearly 7,000 people. And freight rail access helped bring Toyota to Kentucky.
“Railroads help power our economy and connect businesses to markets throughout the U.S. and around the world. The availability of freight railroads has a significant impact on the decisions of businesses considering a move to Kentucky or an expansion in Kentucky,” said Larry Hayes, Secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.
The plant manufactures the Camry, Camry Hybrid, Avalon and Venza, and will soon be the first plant in the United States to produce the Lexus. Toyota also based its North American Manufacturing and Engineering Headquarters in Erlanger and its North American Parts Logistics Division in Hebron. In addition, Toyota has about 100 automotive suppliers in Kentucky alone, which employ over 9,600 workers dedicated to producing parts for Toyota vehicles.
Vehicles assembled in Kentucky are distributed across the country and the globe by freight rail. Toyota continues to expand in Kentucky and create new jobs. In 2013, TMMK announced a significant upgrade at the facility with plans to invest $530 million and create 750 new jobs.
