Tahara Assembly Plant Video

[BlueHenT4R]

The very first production Lexus GX550 came off of the assembly line between a gray 4Runner ORP and a white 4Runner SR5. I knew 4Runners, GX's, and LC's were built at Tahara, but I never knew they were on the same line. I could watch hours of videos like this. The pride and diligence of the employees is so evident here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikKByP6H_58

 

[thennen]

That is a cool video. Amazing watching the dash go in so smoothly and stuff. Thanks for sharing!

 

[DAW89446]

This video makes me realize how much I've taken my T4R - or any other vehicle - for granted. It boggles my mind at what it takes to create the factory that creates raw materials at one end and spits out new vehicles at the other. The synchronization between man and machine is amazing to watch. So with that, now I'll go now and pummel my T4R over another class 4 trail ... :drum:

 

[Captain Spalding]

Wow. Just wow. The guy’s enthusiasm is infectious.

 

[alia176]

That was a really cool video, thanks for sharing.

Sent from my SM-G981V using Tapatalk

 

[Blackgoat]

This video makes me realize how much I've taken my T4R - or any other vehicle - for granted. It boggles my mind at what it takes to create the factory that creates raw materials at one end and spits out new vehicles at the other. The synchronization between man and machine is amazing to watch. So with that, now I'll go now and pummel my T4R over another class 4 trail ... :drum:

Yes, I agree. If you look up the accident history record there are only 23 human-related accidents per year thats 0.0002 % a year..

 

[ArthurKotb]

I knew 4Runners, GX's, and LC's were built at Tahara, but I never knew they were on the same line.

I worked at the Georgetown plant for about 16 years. Multiple vehicles are built on the same line and the only real requirement is the length. That's why the Sienna was moved from Georgetown to the new Indiana plant when it opened. Toyota designed it to be longer and it wouldn't fit on line with the Camry and Avalon. Plants in Japan build about 6 models on each line and North American build 2-3.

What really surprised me was when they build the cars for the Detroit auto show. I was told they come down the very same line. Each car will have the necessary parts at each station for the workers to install.

Watching the video is interesting but to live in that environment and see what happens in all the different sections of a plant, not only on the assembly line but also in each department's area, is amazing. It's a symphony. I can tell you that the American workers are every bit as engaged in the process as Japanese workers.

I had a 1991 V6 Camry for 29 years and it was all original except for the alternator about 2 years before I donated it. The A/C would still keep you very cold but I did have to change it to the new coolant when it leaked. (It needed a can about every 2-3 years.) We still have a 1999 Sienna and it's original except for the door ECU and the front struts. A/C just had a shot of coolant last year for the first time. Both of these were made in Georgetown and have been excellent cars.

I used to love to drive the '91 Camry to the visitor center and park outside the door where the first American Camry was kept. They were almost identical. Great company, great products

 

[alextop]

I use to be addicted to the "How it's Made" program on the discovery channel, love watching the manufacturing process of things. Thanks for sharing!

 

[armabill]

If I wasn't so far away, I'd like to visit and tour that facility. So interesting.

 

[T4R_Canuck]

Thanks for sharing! Very cool video.

Makes me realize just how much i'd love to buy a GX550 and cut it up to add 35's, steel bumpers and a winch. :wow:

 

[DAW89446]

I can tell you that the American workers are every bit as engaged in the process as Japanese workers. ...

Both of these were made in Georgetown and have been excellent cars

Previous to my '18 SR5 I had a 2002 Tacoma TRD 4x4, which I bought new and gave to my grandson when I got my T4R. It was built in Fremont, CA and still is an excellent, reliable truck. Now at 266k miles, still running the original clutch (which got plenty of class 4 rock crawling), original AC charge (never serviced) and even had the OEM headlight bulbs until my grandson yanked out a stuck vehicle and it came back and hit the Tacoma, taking out the lights, grill, fenders and hood. The booboos are fixed and the truck is still a daily driver.

 

[GrimJeeper91]

Cool video. It's crazy how three different rigs are being made at any given moment. I knew all three came from there, but I had figured that they would run one or another any given day, not a mix. Crazy impressive!

 

[ArthurKotb]

Cool video. It's crazy how three different rigs are being made at any given moment. I knew all three came from there, but I had figured that they would run one or another any given day, not a mix. Crazy impressive!

They can run as many as 6 models of cars on the Japan assembly lines. In America it's usually 2-3; all different colors too

 

[ArthurKotb]

If you think assembling the cars is something, you should know how all of the parts, which come from many different locations, are ordered and shipped. There's just enough parts to 'build out' the last ones at the end of the model year.

Toyota can shift production from one plant to another to account for slow down / increase in demand. The Camry is made in Georgetown and Japan and was even made on a line at the Subaru plant in Lafayette, IN for a while.

 

[barry581]

I got to visit/tour the Indiana plant back in 2007 when they were releasing the then new full size Tundra. It was absolutely amazing.