Toyota Canada has started to produce its top-selling Lexus compact luxury SUVs in Cambridge.
The Lexus NX and NX hybrid models will be produced locally for the North American market, says Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC).
“Being selected to build the Lexus NX and Lexus NX Hybrid luxury vehicles reflects the trust that Toyota Motor Corporation has in our world-class Canadian team members, our commitment to quality, and our customer focus,” TMMC President Frank Voss told employees at a recent event celebrating the first vehicle off the line.
Since 2003, TMMC has been the only Toyota manufacturer outside of Japan to build the Lexus models, says a press release.
They have produced more than 1.5 million Lexus RX and RX hybrid vehicles.
TMMC announced a $1.4 billion investment in 2018, which included investments from the provincial and federal governments.
It allowed TMMC to shift its production to meet the demands of North America’s rapidly growing SUV and electrified vehicle markets.
“Not only are we Canada’s largest auto manufacturer, we’re also Canada’s leading maker of electrified vehicles,” Voss said in the release.
The Canadian plants have been making electrified vehicles for almost a decade, starting with the best-selling Rav4 hybrid and Lexus RX hybrid.
Voss said the company has invested over $9 billion in their Canadian production facilities.
TMMC has been a leader in the Canadian automotive industry for more than 30 years and currently employs more than 8,500 people at its facilities in Cambridge and Woodstock.
Since 1985, they have built more than nine million vehicles and they have the capacity to produce more than 500,000 vehicles annually.
TMMC has been Canada’s highest volume automotive manufacturer over the past five years.
