On Nov. 3, 2003, Toyota Tennessee broke ground at 301 James Lawrence Road. In the last twenty years, they have set the standard in advanced manufacturing, collaboration and community engagement.

On Nov. 3, 2023, the 20th anniversary of the plant’s groundbreaking, Mayor Scott Conger presented Toyota Tennessee with a proclamation from the City of Jackson and Madison County.

The proclamation recognized Toyota Tennessee as an outstanding corporate citizen and thanking them for their investments.

John Collins, an employee at Tennessee Toyota for 15 years, accepted the proclamation on behalf of his colleagues and expressed how much of an impact the company has made on his life.

“I’m thankful to Toyota because I have three kids,” Collins said. “All of my kids are college graduates, and Toyota provided me with benefits and pay to finance them through school. I am proud to be a team member at Toyota.”

Wes Woods, President of Toyota Tennessee, emphasized how treating every member of your team like family can cultivate a successful work environment.

“There’s a Japanese word that we use called ‘Mendomi’ and what it means is to treat people like they’re our family,” Woods said. “When you care about a family member, it’s more than just how they’re contributing to the family. It coaching them, listening to them, caring for their needs.”

The 450,000 square foot plant is one of nine Toyota plants in the United States and employees over 450 people.

In 2022, the plant produced more than 2.5 million units, invested $36 million to update equipment to build new four-cylinder engine blocks, and invested $17 million to increase the plant’s capacity to cast hybrid transaxle cases and housings to 1.3 million per year.

Toyota Tennessee has invested over $2 million into local nonprofits such as the Boys and Girls Club, the Carl Perkins Civic Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, RIFA, the Star Center and many more.