Toyota

Global automaker Toyota has contributed $23.4 billion to the U.S. economy over the past 60 years through U.S. holding company Toyota Motor North America, Inc. In 2014, Toyota moved its North American headquarters from California to Plano, Texas, and subsequently developed a new facility that opened in 2017. The LEED-certified campus continues to grow as Toyota augments its presence in North America.

In 2017, after 60 years in the U.S., Toyota Motor North America Inc. opted to consolidate its marketing, sales, engineering and manufacturing arms in North America in Plano, just north of Dallas, Texas. Through its “One Toyota” initiative, the company brought operations from California, New York and Kentucky to Plano, investing about $1 billion into their new facility. The new campus promised $7 billion in economic investment into the region and local communities.

The new center in Plano also involved 4,000 jobs, with about 1,000 new jobs created for local and regional talent. The campus is spread over 100 acres, with seven buildings offering a variety of work and social spaces for its employees and guests. There is even a test track for engineers to study vehicles in action.

“The opening of our new headquarters in Plano is an extraordinary next step in Toyota’s 60-year journey in the United States,” said Jim Lentz, former CEO of Toyota in North America and current TxEDC board member, in a statement. “With team members from four different companies together in one campus location, we believe this will inspire greater collaboration, innovation, and faster decision making as we turn to and lead the future of mobility, all with an eye on our customers.”

“I want to be an employer where people want to come, and in the case of California, the cost of living was eroding the quality of life. In Texas, the hospitality of the South and the pioneer spirit of the West and the values of the Midwest all blend together to create this very positive climate that results in a great quality of life.” Jim Lentz, former CEO, Toyota North America, and TxEDC Board Member

The new corporate center is not just good for business, but also embraces environmental friendliness. Nearly 99% of its construction waste was recycled during the building process. Today, the structure boasts 20,000 solar panels and additional energy is supplied by wind turbines. For these and other reasons, the facilities received LEED Platinum certification, the highest award by the U.S. Green Building Council. It’s all part of the company’s commitment to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050.

In 2019, the company added even more space, with more offices just east of its main campus at the Legacy Town Center III building. The recent growth highlights Toyota’s continued commitment to Plano and the North Texas region.

In 2020, as a mainstay of the region, Toyota stepped up during the COVID-19 crisis to pivot from automobiles to medical equipment. Whether it’s through manufacturing protective face shields for frontline medical workers, lending its production insights to outside companies racing to fabricate critical supplies and equipment, or providing financial gifts to organizations like the Salvation Army and United Way that are embedded in local communities, Toyota is here to help.