San Antonio’s Toyota Plant Eyes Expansion Amid Changing Sales Landscape
San Antonio is buzzing with excitement as the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas Inc. plant, which opened in 2022, seeks to expand like never before. After a roller coaster ride of sales numbers, the automaker is now asking for tax breaks and grants to make this growth a reality. This would mark the largest expansion since the plant began operations, and community members are hopeful about the impact it would have locally.
Sales Show Mixed Results
September proved to be an interesting month for Toyota. Despite a dip in sales—down more than 20% overall—the company found a silver lining. Sales of hybrid and electrified vehicles jumped significantly, indicating a steady demand for greener options. Jack Hollis, vice president of sales for Toyota Motor North America, shared some positive insights, stating, “Nearly 50% of our total sales volume was an electrified model, an achievement made possible by our outstanding team and dealers.”
Hybrids on the Rise
This focus on hybrid vehicles has been a successful strategy for Toyota. Despite other automakers racing ahead with fully electric models, Toyota is sticking with its hybrids, viewing this as the best pathway to carbon neutrality. Key vehicles like the hybrid-only Sequoia SUV and the versatile Tundra pickup are produced right here in San Antonio.
Sales for hybrids accounted for an impressive 48.4% of Toyota’s total volume last month, a notable increase of more than 22% compared to a year ago. Even with an overall drop in sales (down 8% for the third quarter), the demand for electrified models soared, marking a 39% increase again! Year-to-date sales also reflect positive growth, with overall numbers up 6.2%, hitting 1.73 million vehicles. Specifically, electrified cars have seen an impressive increase, soaring up a remarkable 56% from the previous year.
Challenges for San Antonio Models
Even with the positive trends, it wasn’t all sunshine for models built in the San Antonio plant. Sales of the Sequoia dropped by 12.8% to 1,853 vehicles, although year-to-date numbers are still looking good with a 22.4% increase. Meanwhile, the hybrid Tundra faced tougher times with a 40% dip, down to 1,374 vehicles sold last month. Despite this decline, Tundra’s year-to-date figures remain robust, showing a growth of 58.5%.
On the other hand, sales for the gasoline-only version of the Tundra saw a more favorable trend, climbing 5% to reach over 11,000 vehicles. Overall, the plant’s sales are still up 27%, totaling 117,523 vehicles sold this year.
The RAV4 and Camry Shine
When it comes to popular models, the RAV4 continues to reign supreme with 31,296 units sold. Following closely is the hybrid Toyota Camry, leading the electrified segment with nearly 23,000 sales. As Hollis noted, “With 30 electrified vehicles now at Toyota and Lexus dealerships, Lexus sales recording its best-ever year, and the hybrid Camry being a hit, Toyota remains the number one retail brand in the industry.”
A Bright Future Ahead
As the Toyota plant gears up for its expansion, the community and enthusiasts in San Antonio are hopeful. With growing electrified vehicle sales and the backing of local officials, Toyota will surely continue to innovate and provide job opportunities while catering to the evolving automotive needs of consumers.
With plans to drive-forward in a high-energy environment, all eyes will be on San Antonio as this powerhouse automaker aims for even greater heights.
