WASHINGTON: Alabama will be the site of a new $1.6 billion Toyota Motor Corp and Mazda Motor Corp auto plant, a victory for President Donald Trump who had prodded manufacturers to build new US facilities and threatened tariffs on foreign production, sources said on Tuesday.
The plant, which will employ up to 4,000 people and produce about 300,000 vehicles a year, will be located in Huntsville, Alabama, and is a boon for the state, where Toyota has a large engine plant and an existing network of automotive suppliers.
A formal announcement by company and state officials is expected on Wednesday in Montgomery, sources briefed on the matter said.
The new plant — in a state Trump won by 28 points in 2016 — could be a political boost to the Republican president, who has urged automakers to build plants in the United States and add jobs.
The companies said they expect the plant to open in 2021.
Trump tweeted in March he wanted “new plants to be built here for cars sold here.” The White House did not immediately comment on Tuesday.
The announcement also comes at a time of declining US auto industry sales, so it could exacerbate overcapacity and add pressure to cut prices.
US new vehicle sales fell 2 per cent in 2017, after hitting an all-time record high in 2016, and are expected to fall further in 2018.
Details of an anticipated tax and incentive package for the investment were not yet known.
It has been reported the companies sought at least $1 billion in incentives.
A Toyota spokesman declined to comment, except to say an announcement was expected soon.
A Mazda spokeswoman also declined to comment.
In recent months, the companies had narrowed their choices down to sites in Alabama and North Carolina.
Local media last month said the leading site under consideration was in northern Alabama’s Limestone County, near Toyota’s large engine plant in Huntsville.
In September Toyota announced a $106 million technology upgrade for the Huntsville plant.
A Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville website for the “Huntsville Mega Site” touts the fact it has been “certified as development-ready.” The commerce chamber, local and state officials declined to comment on Tuesday on plans for the plant.
A year ago, President-elect Trump criticised Toyota and threatened hefty tariffs against the Japanese automaker if it built its Corolla sedan for the US market in Mexico.
“Toyota Motor said will build a new plant in Baja, Mexico, to build Corolla cars for US no way! Build plant in U or pay big border tax,” Trump posted on Twitter in early 2017.
Toyota and Mazda announced plans for a new plant in August.
Toyota said it would shift production of Corollas from Canada to the new venture rather than in Guanajuato, and would build Tacoma pickups in Mexico instead.
Mazda plans to build new crossover SUVs at the plant.
Trump praised the joint venture announcement, saying in August on Twitter: “Toyota & Mazda to build a new $1.6B plant here in the USA and create 4K new American jobs. A great investment in American manufacturing!” — Reuters
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