The 2014 Corolla will be exported from the USA to markets in Central America
The 2014 Toyota Corolla has just made its debut at car dealerships across the United States, but Toyota has even greater ambitions. According to recent announcements, the automaker plans to ship U.S.-assembled sedans to 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean starting in 2015. Currently, these Corollas are being manufactured at Toyota's facility in Tupelo, Mississippi. This isn't the first time Toyota has produced the Corolla in the U.S.; the previous generation was also assembled here alongside other models like the Camry, Tundra, and Highlander.
Jim Lentz, the CEO of Toyota's North American region, stated in a press release that, “These shipments are expected to build upon Toyota’s all-time record export of more than 124,000 U.S.-assembled vehicles to 21 global markets in 2012, representing a 45% increase compared to the prior year.†Despite this impressive growth, Toyota still relies heavily on imports, with approximately 22% of its vehicles sold in the U.S. coming from overseas factories. However, shifting production closer to target markets makes strategic sense, especially given the unpredictable fluctuations of the Japanese yen. Additionally, shipping vehicles from North America to Latin America is significantly less expensive than sourcing them from Japan.
Back in 2011, Toyota made headlines by announcing plans to export U.S.-built Siennas to South Korea. These minivans originated from Toyota’s plant in Princeton, Indiana, marking the first time the Sienna had been exported outside of North America. That same year, South Korea became one of the countries receiving Toyota exports, bringing the total number of destinations to 19.
Even earlier, in 2008, Toyota initiated efforts to export the Sequoia and Tundra to Latin America and the Middle East. Thus, while Latin America represents new opportunities, it isn't entirely uncharted territory for Toyota. As emerging markets in regions such as Latin America, Russia, and China continue to expand, we can anticipate increased exports of larger vehicles like SUVs and trucks to meet growing consumer demand.
Jim Lentz emphasized in the press release, “Toyota’s U.S. manufacturing operations continue to grow as a key supplier of cars and trucks for global markets, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our team members here. The export of U.S.-built Corolla sedans to Latin America and the Caribbean will further strengthen our domestic manufacturing capabilities.â€
While these strategies benefit American workers by keeping jobs stateside, they do little to directly stimulate the U.S. economy through vehicle sales. Nonetheless, the Corolla remains a dependable and popular choice worldwide, ensuring its success wherever it reaches new shores.
*Author Frank Rockwell is a passionate car enthusiast and former auto mechanic. When not contributing articles to treaddepot.com, he assists friends and neighbors with seasonal car preparations. Living in Alaska, he has already installed winter tires on 20 vehicles—a testament to the region's challenging climate.*
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