Toyota Canada has announced that they will be investing $100 million into their plant in Cambridge, Ontario to expand production of their popular Lexus RX 350 SUV. In addition, the RX 450h (that ‘h’ stands for hybrid) will also be produced at the plant for the first time.
In addition to the plant upgrade, 400 new jobs will be created. In total the plant is now expected to employ 7,300 people.
“This is a big and ambitious project with new technology, exacting standards and tight timelines,” said Toyota Motor Canada president Brian Krinock. ““We are already maxed out in the facility.”
The boost also means increased production for the Toyota RAV4 and will increase the Canadian plant’s capacity to around half a million vehicles annually.
The Ontario plant is the only plant outside of Japan that produces vehicles for Toyota’s Lexus division. Increased value of the Yen has shifted Toyota’s production to Canadian facilities in order to cut losses.