Originally known as Toyota Motor Manufacturing USA, TMMK was established in 1986 and is Toyota's largest manufacturing facility in the world. TMMK began production in May 1988, building the 1989 model 4-cylinder Camry. In the beginning, the engines were shipped from the Toyota Kamigo plant in Toyota City, Japan; however, an on-site engine plant was added from 1988 to 1992, increasing the American content to 75%. Employees improved the production process. Harbour Consulting rated it as the eighth most efficient auto plant in North America in 2006. In addition to TMMK, Toyota added Camry production at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. in 2007 to keep up with demand for the new Camry and increase production capacity of the Camry Hybrid prior to the decline in the automotive industry in the U.S. On 13 November 2013, Toyota announced it would end the contract with Subaru of Indiana Automotive in 2016. SIA's Camry production was reabsorbed by TMMK, largely because of declines in midsize sedan sales. TMMK began the production of the Lexus ES sedan beginning in October 2015, adding 50,000 vehicles annually and 750 jobs to the facility. Toyota invested $360 million to accommodate the additional work. "Lexus was founded in the United States, so it is only fitting that we are bringing the production of luxury sedans for our U.S. customers back to where the brand was born," said Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor Corporation. "It is also fitting that we chose Kentucky because it was Toyota's first stand-alone plant in America. So in a way, for manufacturing, Kentucky is Toyota's home. It also has some of the most-experienced Toyota team members in the world." Daniel Lowry, a spokesperson for the Kentucky Cabinet of Economic Development, gave credit to the high quality of Kentucky's workforce, saying Lexus wanted its best people involved in the first U.S. expansion of the brand's manufacturing. , is manufactured in Georgetown, Kentucky. It presently builds the Avalon sedan, Camry sedan, and Lexus ES sedan and RAV4 Hybrid for the 2020 Model Year. It previously produced the Sienna minivan, Venza crossover, and Camry Solara coupe and convertible. The factory also produces 4-cylinder and V6 engines and powertrain parts. The plant has three automobile assembly lines with an annual capacity of 550,000 vehicles, and an engine shop with an annual capacity of 600,000 engines. In addition to assembling vehicles and engines, many plastic parts used at TMMK are made at an on-site plastics shop. Toyota spent $1.33 billion at the facility and added 700 new jobs in 2017 in preparation for the all new 2018 Camry; the first copies of which rolled off the line on 28 June 2017. TMMK is also the first US facility to use Toyota's new TNGA technology which underpins the 2018 Camry.
Environmental traits
TMMK was designated as a "zero landfill facility" in 2005. The designation means that all of the waste produced on-site is either recycled or reused and nothing is sent to landfills. Waste is composted, totalling three tons per day with excess capacity — enough that the previous manufacturing headquarters of TEMA, about an hour's drive to the north in Erlanger, Kentucky, would send their waste down for compost. The headquarters has recently relocated to Plano, TX. The grounds also sports a very large vegetable garden. In 2005, the produce produced at TMMK helped a nearby charitable organization, God's Pantry, distribute 2.5 million pounds of produce, exceeding its yearly goal by 2 million pounds. The garden also produces a full crop of pumpkins used at the Toyota Child Development Center for carving at Halloween, and corn which enhances the compost pile.
