If the 6th Gen was Built in Mexico…
- Thread starter RichinRidgewood
- Start date
Blackwatch
New member
I had a Q5 made in Mexico and there were lots of things wrong with it. Power windows wouldn’t stop going down, front doing snapped sitting overnight. Transmission started to grind, back seat would flip down.
3 years old and 60,000 miles.
3 years old and 60,000 miles.
I had a 2019 Jetta GLI and it was a complete piece of junk. Constant problems and lemon law buyback in 4 months.
I’ll never buy another vehicle that was made in Mexico.
RichinRidgewood
New member
Truly amazing. We thought you had it all figured out and your buddy Koji had given you all the inside information when you guys drink together on Friday nights after work.
Maybe because its not going to happen?
There is a huge Toyota factory near Tecate in Baja California. It is east of Tijuana.
Hundreds of Tacomas have been crossing the border daily, for at least the last 3-4 years. Maybe longer. I haven't heard of any issues with the Mexican built products.
Lots of international factories are all over Tijuana. Samsung, Jacuzzi, Panisonic, Bose, Taylor guitar, Toyota, and so much more.
Toyota wont let Mexico, or any country for that matter, distroy their reputation. I can assure you that there will be QA/QC in place to meet Toyotas requirements before leaving the factory.
Hundreds of Tacomas have been crossing the border daily, for at least the last 3-4 years. Maybe longer. I haven't heard of any issues with the Mexican built products.
Lots of international factories are all over Tijuana. Samsung, Jacuzzi, Panisonic, Bose, Taylor guitar, Toyota, and so much more.
Toyota wont let Mexico, or any country for that matter, distroy their reputation. I can assure you that there will be QA/QC in place to meet Toyotas requirements before leaving the factory.
Blackwatch
New member
Does anyone know the production capacities of the the Guanjuanato and Baja plants in Mexico? I keep hearing that Guanjuanato was expanded to build more trucks to make room for the 4Runner. Google searches don't seem to be great for finding anything.
TexasFunRunner
New member
Here are five posts discussing the move to Mexico and capacities. About a year ago there was a post with [MENTION=166416]Carmaker1[/MENTION] arguing with someone about the increased capacity but he swore his sources said the 4Runner production would stay in Japan, yet in some of these posts he says production is moving to Mexico, things changed as he got new source information, that may or maynot have been valid.
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3671439-post34.html
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3671508-post37.html
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3737185-post241.html
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3736877-post240.html
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3791234-post678.html
It would make complete sense to build the 4Runner alongside the Tacoma in Mexico as they will now share many design, frame and powertrain elements. Since the Lexus GX is no longer a twin of the 4Runner and Prado, there is nothing keeping the 4Runner anchored at the Japan production facilities.
With all the delays in the GX550, the LC250 and the 4Runner, six months minimum delays, it would make complete sense getting 4Runner production up and running in Mexico could be part of these delays.
If the new Scout can publicly set a reveal date, why can't Toyota?
https://www.gearpatrol.com/cars/g41530884/scout-motors/
balong48
New member
While it’d make sense from a platform standpoint, I still can’t imagine a six month delay is enough for them to move all tooling to Mexico. As [MENTION=166416]Carmaker1[/MENTION] has also said in the past, Toyota has a history of announcing product production moves long before they actually happen. We haven’t seen one yet for the 4Runner. I’m still on the train that we will get 1-2 MYs out of Japan only, with Mexico being brought up to speed by MY27-28. However, I think we’d start hearing concrete plans about expansions in Mexico by now if that were the case. I do think solely Mexico production may be the end goal, but there will be a transitional period where we get both Mexico and Japan built 4Runners.
I dunno, I just want to see something at this point lol.
Blackwatch
New member
https://carbuzz.com/news/toyotas-ambitions-for-the-new-tacoma-are-insane
This article talks about a 42% projected increase in Tacoma production. 2022 sales of the Tacoma were 237,000 units. The new expansion talks about producing 337,000 units. With a recession and vehicle prices going through the roof I can't see Toyota being this optimistic about the 4th gen when 3rd gens are flooding the lots right now and can't sell.
But if you consider the GH and LC250 bleeding sales away from the 4Runner projecting selling 100,000 6th gen 4Runners seems realistic.
If Toyota were to move production to Mexico I don't know when would be a good time to announce it. It should create a high demand for the 5th gen 4Runner which could lead to the public perception that the new one will be less. If they announce production in Mexico next fall when most of the 5th gens are sold it may be less impactful on the 6th men's reputation and acceptance.
Moving the Tacoma from Texas to Mexico when some Tacos were already built there or years isn't as big of a step down as 40 years in one of the best factories in the world to a new addition to a factory in Mexico. Cheaper to make but you lose years of experience in the assembly workers alone.
Blackwatch
New member
Metalsa inaugurates plant in Guanajuato - MEXICONOW
GUANAJUATO - Metalsa inaugurates its plant in Apaseo el Grande, Guanajuato, with an investment of US$180 million to produce 308,000 chassis per year, generating 1,044 new jobs. The Mexican Tier 1 plant will support the production of Toyota's new Tacoma.
The facility occupies 74,000 square meters of land and has 72,675 square meters of construction.
Among its most notable features are a 5,185 square meter component warehouse and two assembly lines, producing 308,000 chassis annually, shipping a truckload of 10 chassis every 16 minutes.
This guarantees just-in-time deliveries for Toyota's Guanajuato plant and a constant flow of shipments to Toyota Baja California. The plant produces chassis for Toyota's Tacoma model.
The US$180 million investment in this plant includes Industry 4.0 technology, including automation, artificial intelligence and reconfigurability.
This not only contributes to operational efficiency and resource savings, but also enables just-in-time deliveries, strengthening the efficient supply chain for Toyota's plants in Mexico.
Metalsa, a 100% Mexican company and part of the Proeza group founded in 1956, is a Tier 1 automotive supplier with a global presence. With 12 plants in 8 countries and more than 13,000 employees.
This new plant will produce 308,000 chassis per year. The Tacoma sales aren't 308,000... maybe the new 4Runner will come from here.
GUANAJUATO - Metalsa inaugurates its plant in Apaseo el Grande, Guanajuato, with an investment of US$180 million to produce 308,000 chassis per year, generating 1,044 new jobs. The Mexican Tier 1 plant will support the production of Toyota's new Tacoma.
The facility occupies 74,000 square meters of land and has 72,675 square meters of construction.
Among its most notable features are a 5,185 square meter component warehouse and two assembly lines, producing 308,000 chassis annually, shipping a truckload of 10 chassis every 16 minutes.
This guarantees just-in-time deliveries for Toyota's Guanajuato plant and a constant flow of shipments to Toyota Baja California. The plant produces chassis for Toyota's Tacoma model.
The US$180 million investment in this plant includes Industry 4.0 technology, including automation, artificial intelligence and reconfigurability.
This not only contributes to operational efficiency and resource savings, but also enables just-in-time deliveries, strengthening the efficient supply chain for Toyota's plants in Mexico.
Metalsa, a 100% Mexican company and part of the Proeza group founded in 1956, is a Tier 1 automotive supplier with a global presence. With 12 plants in 8 countries and more than 13,000 employees.
This new plant will produce 308,000 chassis per year. The Tacoma sales aren't 308,000... maybe the new 4Runner will come from here.
TexasFunRunner
New member
Another possible clue, it would be more advantageous to produce both the Tacoma and 4Runner when you have "and two assembly lines", as the article cites. Especially, since they are "shipping a truckload of 10 chassis every 16 minutes".
Having one assembly line for the longer Tacoma chassis and utilizing the second assembly line for the shorter 4Runner chassis, they can reduce cycle time.
ArthurKotb
Member
I'm retired from Toyota but the last time I was at the Baha plant where they made Tacomas the "line" was a literal line painted on the floor. They pushed the bodies along on wheeled carts.
Rumors of the T4R being produced in Mexico have persisted since before the Gen 4 came out. It's still made in Japan though. Toyota moves production around as necessary.
One thing about Mexico. The government says if you want to sell cars in Mexico you have to make cars in Mexico. So Toyota started making a small number of Tacomas down there. Volkswagen makes cars in Mexico. The Puebla plant produces the models: Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Cabriolet, Golf, Golf SportWagen and Tiguan Long Version
Blackwatch
New member
This job ad is still active. There are two programs listed at the Guanjuanato plant in this ad. Someone had said the 610L was the code for the 5th gen so (2) seems to be pointing towards the 6th gen being made there.
In addition, it is important to remember that the Mexican workforce in the automotive industry is of excellence, examples of VW and now Tesla, which has decided to make its new construction plant, in addition to Audi, BMW for the 2, 3 and M2 series, FORD , GMC, NISSAN, Honda and Infinity
While it is possible we may one day see “excellence” - think early vehicles from Korea versus the great stuff we see today - my experience with a made in Mexico VW was 100% the opposite.
RichinRidgewood
New member
Have not read where it will be built yet. Any updates?
turbo8
Member
An in the know person on ih8mud, made a cryptic post suggesting the vin will start with a J.
balong48
New member
Toyota says this new 4Runner will be built at the company’s plant in Tahara, Japan, and is scheduled to hit showrooms this fall.
TAHARA!
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TAHARA!
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