BUFFALO, W.Va. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, praised Toyota West Virginia’s (TMMWV) announcement of a new $240 million investment to add a dedicated production line of hybrid transaxles.
The new hybrid transaxle line investment will provide new equipment and operational upgrades to modernize the facility. One important result of the new line is that it will allow TMMWV team members to diversify their skillset and play a larger role in Toyota’s future producing electric vehicles in North America.
Earlier this week, Senator Capito announced her plans to take action to protect West Virginia by eliminating several of the many egregious provisions in the Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spending spree should the legislation move forward. One of those provisions Senator Capito is working to eliminate includes a $4,500 tax credit for electric vehicle purchases that only applies to vehicles built at union facilities. If this provision were to become law, West Virginia workers at the Toyota plant in Buffalo—and tens of thousands of other Americans around the country—would be at significant competitive disadvantage because cars made by unionized competitors would be $4,500 cheaper, courtesy of federal taxpayers.
“Toyota’s presence in West Virginia represents more than just good jobs. It’s also a company that has committed to improving our economy and investing in our workforce for more than two decades. I’m thrilled that the Buffalo plant is making this meaningful investment, which demonstrates the company’s ability to continue incorporating additional technologies that will advance their production. West Virginia has a long and productive relationship with Toyota, and this announcement further solidifies their commitment to investing in our state and our workers,” Senator Capito said. “In the meantime, I will continue doing all I can to make sure our West Virginia workers — like those at the Toyota Buffalo plant — are protected. Earlier this week, I made my intentions known to put forth an amendment that would eliminate an unfair special interest subsidy in the Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spend spree should the legislation move forward. We should not be prioritizing some American workers over others, and this amendment will allow our hardworking West Virginians to compete on a level playing field.”
“Toyota West Virginia is preparing for future market needs as demand increases in the area of vehicle electrification,” Srini Matam, president of TMMWV, said. “The investment will fund targeted improvements that will increase our flexibility and competitiveness, allowing us to be in a better position to directly respond to shifting customer demand for higher efficiency vehicles. This project is more than just a new product. It demonstrates the need for TMMWV and our path forward as we increase our powertrain capabilities to better support Toyota Motor North America’s growing manufacturing footprint by building vehicles where we sell.”
WEST VIRGINIA’S LEADING ROLE
Toyota’s West Virginia team has and continues to play an active and important role in Toyota’s manufacturing operations in the U.S., through a series of expansions and updates since it was established.
The announcement comes on the heels of another recent plant expansion. In February, Senator Capito applauded TMMWV’s announcement that they would be making a $210 million investment and adding 100 new jobs to expand capacity of its four-cylinder and V6 engine lines.
TMMWV annually produces about 1 million engines and transmissions for many North American-assembled vehicles. This year marks its 25th anniversary from groundbreaking, and it has since been expanded or received new investment 11 times.
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