Toyota to officially open second plant in southern Ontario

[Mayoo]

Toyota Canada is holding a ceremony in Woodstock, Ont., on Thursday to officially open a new $1.1 billion plant about a month after its assembly lines began running.

The plant, which employs about 1,200 people, is Toyota's second facility in Canada. The other one is in nearby Cambridge.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is among the dignitaries taking part in the ceremony. Prime Minister Stephen Harper had planned to attend but cancelled his trip at the last moment as he met with the Governor General to seek her permission to prorogue Parliament.

The Woodstock plant is producing Toyota's RAV-4 cross-over sport utility vehicles. The company initially planned to turn out 150,000 RAV-4s a year at the facility but scaled that back to 75,000 as sales slowed for all automakers.

The Cambridge plant assembles Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks.

In November, Toyota reported that it had sold more than 1,600 RAV-4s, an increase of more than 37 per cent from the same month a year ago. Overall, Toyota has sold 214,406 vehicles in the first 11 months of this year, well ahead of its previous best full year in 2007.

Source

[Mayoo]

Toyota Canada is holding a ceremony in Woodstock, Ont., on Thursday to officially open a new $1.1 billion plant about a month after its assembly lines began running.

The plant, which employs about 1,200 people, is Toyota's second facility in Canada. The other one is in nearby Cambridge.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is among the dignitaries taking part in the ceremony. Prime Minister Stephen Harper had planned to attend but cancelled his trip at the last moment as he met with the Governor General to seek her permission to prorogue Parliament.

The Woodstock plant is producing Toyota's RAV-4 cross-over sport utility vehicles. The company initially planned to turn out 150,000 RAV-4s a year at the facility but scaled that back to 75,000 as sales slowed for all automakers.

The Cambridge plant assembles Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks.

In November, Toyota reported that it had sold more than 1,600 RAV-4s, an increase of more than 37 per cent from the same month a year ago. Overall, Toyota has sold 214,406 vehicles in the first 11 months of this year, well ahead of its previous best full year in 2007.

Source

Also wondering how this company can do this while other Automakers in North America is Struggling ..

[Jaytee]

Also wondering how this company can do this while other Automakers in North America is Struggling ..

I figured a lot of people at the GM plant in Whitby would try to get a job at the new Toyota plant.

[Menace]

I don't think Toyota will hire ex-GM employees with old attitude

I figured a lot of people at the GM plant in Whitby would try to get a job at the new Toyota plant.

[malecoke]

I don't think Toyota will hire ex-GM employees with old attitude

+1...they shouldnt neways...its like suicide

[cq358]

They have rejected a lot of application many of which work in a unionized plant. They rather hire someone is young and 0 experience than people used to work in a unionized shop.

[MTD71]

Also wondering how this company can do this while other Automakers in North America is Struggling ..

Because Toyota builds good cars that people actually buy. Every car that comes down the line has a customer waiting for it. Unlike the Big 3 that pump out as many as they can and hope that someone buys them. Production has been cut back slightly becuase there is not as much of a demand though, but not by much.

I figured a lot of people at the GM plant in Whitby would try to get a job at the new Toyota plant.

There are a few former Big 3 employees I've met, but many of them complain about how hard the work is and that we need a union.

I don't think Toyota will hire ex-GM employees with old attitude

They have about 1500 or so people already interviewed and ready to start work from the last hiring they did.

[Engi-Nir]

Because Toyota builds good cars that people actually buy. Every car that comes down the line has a customer waiting for it. Unlike the Big 3 that pump out as many as they can and hope that someone buys them. Production has been cut back slightly becuase there is not as much of a demand though, but not by much.

Are you crazy, every car that comes off Toyota line is already spoken for? yeah sure.

The decision to open the plant came down the pipeline June 2005.

[Jon Lai]

Are you crazy, every car that comes off Toyota line is already spoken for? yeah sure.

The decision to open the plant came down the pipeline June 2005.

What he means is the cars that Toyota produces aren't sitting on the lot at the dealership. Rather, the situation is more like Toyota's production meets their demands, whereas the Big 3 produces cars without realizing they are producing more than the demand for them.

[Engi-Nir]

What he means is the cars that Toyota produces aren't sitting on the lot at the dealership. Rather, the situation is more like Toyota's production meets their demands, whereas the Big 3 produces cars without realizing they are producing more than the demand for them.

Talk to the idiot UAW/CAW, it is cheaper for domestics to produce cars than to build to demand cause of Job Bank, something like a laid off worker makes 97% of salary doing absolutely jack$hit at home. Hence, why have to sitting their a$$es at home, have them build cars, works out to be cheaper for GM. Gov't bailout should only be done if Job Bank is eliminated, otherwise I say GM should just go bankrupt.

Whatever happens to GM is actually going to help Toyota so their workers don't end up a legacy cost for Toyota. Even now, I think Toyota pays too high for the labor, going to end up hurting them like it did for GM.

[new_vr]

Because Toyota builds good cars that people actually buy. Every car that comes down the line has a customer waiting for it. Unlike the Big 3 that pump out as many as they can and hope that someone buys them. Production has been cut back slightly becuase there is not as much of a demand though, but not by much.

We definitely have a different definition of a good car.
As also have a different definition of not by much, since the US demand for Toyota (and all cars) was down by a lot!

[SkiD]

Because Toyota builds good cars that people actually buy. Every car that comes down the line has a customer waiting for it. Unlike the Big 3 that pump out as many as they can and hope that someone buys them. Production has been cut back slightly becuase there is not as much of a demand though, but not by much.

I think you have been drinking too much Toyota kool aid, the picture is not quite as rosy as you would have people believe.

Here are the facts (from Toyota themselves).

In November, Toyota sales in the US were down 34% overall, RAV 4 sales were down 25% (20% YTD) even after offering 0% financing. [Yes, I know November's sales in Canada were mostly flat for Toyota, but everyone's sales will decrease over the short term when Canada finally enters into a recession)

If production was only cut back 'slightly', Toyota will have a lot of vehicles on dealers lots by the summer (if sales are down 30%, production needs to be cut 30%).

All car manufacturers are currently hurting (yes even Toyota and Honda).

BTW, if the GM/Chrysler/Ford go bankrupt, this Toyota plant would probably close also, all it takes is one part to be no longer made by a North American parts supplier and vehicles can not be finished.

[Karbaum]

I think you have been drinking too much Toyota kool aid, the picture is not quite as rosy as you would have people believe.

Here are the facts (from Toyota themselves).

In November, Toyota sales in the US were down 34% overall, RAV 4 sales were down 25% (20% YTD) even after offering 0% financing. [Yes, I know November's sales in Canada were mostly flat for Toyota, but everyone's sales will decrease over the short term when Canada finally enters into a recession)

If production was only cut back 'slightly', Toyota will have a lot of vehicles on dealers lots by the summer (if sales are down 30%, production needs to be cut 30%).

All car manufacturers are currently hurting (yes even Toyota and Honda).

BTW, if the GM/Chrysler/Ford go bankrupt, this Toyota plant would probably close also, all it takes is one part to be no longer made by a North American parts supplier and vehicles can not be finished.

I think someone needs to give you a hug :P

To be honest, everyone has their own opinion about what's going to happen.

But think of it this way. If you think positive, chances are positive things will happen. If you think negative, chances are nevative things are going to happen.

Toyota Canada is pushing forward with a positive outlook, and my guess is that it will benefit them from doing so. Not just because I work for them, but it's common sense.

[imnew]

Also wondering how this company can do this while other Automakers in North America is Struggling ..

Very easy!!!! As long as the plant isn't unionized than they are all good!!!!

It's the union that shuts down mfg plants in CAN....

My 2cents worth.

[Jon Lai]

I think you have been drinking too much Toyota kool aid, the picture is not quite as rosy as you would have people believe.

Here are the facts (from Toyota themselves).

In November, Toyota sales in the US were down 34% overall, RAV 4 sales were down 25% (20% YTD) even after offering 0% financing. [Yes, I know November's sales in Canada were mostly flat for Toyota, but everyone's sales will decrease over the short term when Canada finally enters into a recession)

If production was only cut back 'slightly', Toyota will have a lot of vehicles on dealers lots by the summer (if sales are down 30%, production needs to be cut 30%).

All car manufacturers are currently hurting (yes even Toyota and Honda).

BTW, if the GM/Chrysler/Ford go bankrupt, this Toyota plant would probably close also, all it takes is one part to be no longer made by a North American parts supplier and vehicles can not be finished.

Nobody said Toyota/Honda weren't hurting. But they're definiately not bleeding, in comparison. Yes, scaled down production will be necessary, but that is in contrast to the risk in bankrupcy by the others.

Toyota has scaled down production of RAV4's by this new plant by 50% - that's more than what the demand has scaled down by. It is this type of tactic that will keep them in the game, even if it is artifically creating a demand and supply balance or even a demand over supply situation.

In comparison, the big 3 pushes out cars like there's no tomorrow and just have them sit at the lots. First of all, fast production always implies that quality is sacrificed to a certain extent. Second, they are burning cash when it's not even necessary. You don't see 2007 models being sold by Toyota and Honda, yet if you take out any newspaper you'll find certain GM/Ford dealerships offering "low" prices on NEW 2007 model vehicles. Doesn't this tell us something?

And if you think artifically creating demand is bad, think again. It worked for the Wii, why wouldn't it work for Rav4's and other Toyotas?