Toyota To Shutter U.S. Plant Where Tacoma Is Built

The Associated Press reports that Toyota has decided to end operations at the New United Motor Manufacturing Plant in Northern California, where the Toyota Tacoma midsize pickup truck is produced. The Tacoma is the best selling truck in its segment.

Tacoma production is expected to move to Toyota's truck plant in San Antonio, Texas, where the Tundra full-size truck is currently built. Tacomas are also assembled at a Toyota factory in Tijuana, Mexico.

The NUMMI plant was established in 1984 as a 50/50 joint venture with General Motors. NUMMI began producing a truck, originally called the Hilux, in 1991. Four years later, the Hilux was redesigned and re-named the Tacoma. NUMMI had been producing approximately 163,000 Tacomas a year.

[Source: Autoblog via The Associated Press]