A Toyota factory in north Alabama will add 450 jobs as the sole North American manufacturer of engines for the 2022 Tundra pickup truck, the company said Monday.
Employment at the Toyota Alabama plant will increase to 1,800 people, and the company said it plans to spend $288 million on the project, which is separate from a Toyota Mazda factory being constructed west of downtown Huntsville that will use parts made at the new Nippon paint plant being built in East Chattanooga.
The twin-turbo V6 engine was described as a completely new motor for the Tundra.
According to Toyota, the new Tundra's design will give it a maximum towing capacity of up to 12,000 pounds and a maximum payload of 1,940 pounds.
The truck is expected to go on sale later this year. Pricing has not been announced.
The Huntsville plant has a ceremony planned for Oct. 8 to celebrate the production of the new engine.