Production of the next generation Nissan Altima is now underway, a 2013 model that is being built at a manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tenn. The new model comes as Altima sales continue to rise, putting Nissan within striking range of the Toyota Camry, the long-time best-selling car in America. The new Altima also fires a warning salvo across the midsize sedan segment, by bringing a level of fuel economy that rivals some hybrid models. That alone will force its competitors to scramble in a bid to field more competitive models.

Engines and CVTs

Nissan isn’t messing with success as it rolls out its new Altima, due in showrooms this July. Both of its engine choices return, a 2.5-liter four and a 3.5-liter V-6 and each one is paired with a continuously variable transmission, technology that Nissan has been refining since it was introduced more than 20 years ago. Its CVT is responsible for the bulk of its fuel savings and does so without compromising power. Indeed its 182-horsepower four and its 270-horsepower V-6 engines put it at or near the top of power for its class.

The new threshold for fuel efficient sedans has been set by the 2013 Nissan Altima. This model is expected to deliver 38 mpg city, a number that is 3 mpg above its nearest non-hybrid competitors and is 2 mpg above the partial hybrid Buick Regal eAssist edition. With a starting price set at $21,500, the base Altima sedan is priced competitively.

Nissan and government officials gather to mark the start of production for the 2013 Altima. This model is being built at factories in Tennessee and Mississippi.

Tennessee Made Models

Nissan’s Smyrna manufacturing complex is a beehive of activity. In addition to producing the Altima, its pure electric LEAF and the batteries that power this vehicle will be produced there. Two more next generation models, its Pathfinder and Rogue sport utility vehicles, will also be produced there. Supplementing Smyrna production is a plant in Canton, Miss., that will also produce the Altima with engines supplied by Nissan’s Decherd, Tenn., facility.

On hand in Smyrna to mark the occasion were several Nissan officials and government leaders including Bill Krueger, vice chairman, Nissan Americas and Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. Said the governor, “We are proud that Nissan calls Tennessee home and that the Altima has been made here for more than two decades. This new model is a testament to the company’s strong brand and globally competitive reputation and a reflection of our state’s talented workforce.” The governor was joined by Tennessee’s two U.S. senators, Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker. Said Corker, “I truly believe Tennessee is now THE state for auto production in America, and Nissan deserves a great deal of credit for helping make that a reality.”

Year-to-Date Sales

Through April 2012, Nissan reports sales of 112,599 Altima units, comprised of both its sedan and coupe models. Sales year-to-date are up 29.7 percent over 2011 with Nissan on track to sell 340,000 units this year. That number is nearly 3,000 units higher than the number of Camrys sold in 2011, bringing Nissan ever closer to displacing its arch-rival atop the best-selling car peak.

Photos courtesy of Nissan.

Discounts of $4,500 come with this discontinued Mitsubishi SUV.

As the automotive market continues to heat up, customers may discover that the bargains that were available in recent years are no longer offered. In 2009, when sales bottomed out, automakers were offering generous cash incentives in a bid to move product. Today, new car deals may be harder to come by, but with some searching around you can save hundreds, perhaps thousands of dollars off of the sticker price.

Out with the old, in with the new — Car shoppers looking for a bargain might want to consider models that are either being discontinued or will be receiving a significant update for the new model year. Mazda, for example, discontinued its Tribute SUV following the 2011 model year and is doing the same for its CX-7 in 2012. Dealers want to push these vehicles off of their lots to make room for the all new CX-5, thus deals can be had. Models receiving significant updates for 2013 include the Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, Toyota Corolla and Nissan Xterra. Nissan incentives include $1,500 cash back on the 2012 Altima sedan and $3,000 back on the 2011 Maxima.

Owner loyalty can pay off — Car manufacturers place big importance on market share. Thus, to keep you in the fold, you may be eligible for an additional rebate on top of other offers. One of the most generous plans available comes from Audi as it offers $1,000 to $3,000 towards the purchase of your next Audi vehicle. As long as your current Audi vehicle is model year 2001 or newer, then you may qualify. Others offering loyalty programs include Volvo giving back $1,000; Kia from $500 to $1,500 back ; and Mitsubishi offering a $500 incentive. Be warned: if your car was totaled and your insurer now holds the title, you might find that the dealer won’t give you the rebate as this Mazda shopper explained to The Consumerist.

Slow-selling models offer large incentives — If your chief reason for buying a new car is to get you from Point A to Point B, then you may not care what vehicle you are driving. Mitsubishi continues to struggle in the U.S. and is putting deep discounts on most of its vehicles. Its 2012 Galant midsize sedan comes with a $3,500 rebate while its retired, but still available 2011 Endeavor offers a $4,500 rebate. All 2012 Suzuki vehicles can be financed at zero percent for 72 months or you can choose cash back offers such as $2,000 on its Equator pickup truck; $1,500 back on its midsize Kizashi sedan; and $1,000 off of its SX4 sedan. You may need to plug in your zip code to find local offers.

Additional incentives may apply — Loyal owners aren’t the only ones eligible for special incentives. Most manufacturers give additional incentives on top of whatever offers they currently are running. The key here is knowing what these incentives are and asking the dealer for them. If you are a recent college graduate, you may be eligible for a rebate. Toyota Financial Services offers $1,000 off the price of select Toyota vehicles leased or financed through TFS. The “recent” graduation requirement is quite liberal too — you’re eligible for this discount if you graduate from college as far back as two years ago. Other manufacturers, such as Honda, allow grads to put down as little as 5 percent toward a new car purchase and will allow them to defer their first payment for 90 days and defer interest accumulation for 60 days. Other incentives that may be available include a Kelley Blue Book to find out what your car is worth. Be thorough in your research, take your time shopping and hold your ground for the best deal available.

Your habit of buying and selling used cars privately is a hobby, but your state may have something else to say about it. In Michigan, an individual that buys, sells, brokers, leases, negotiates a lease or deals in five or more vehicles within any 12-month period is required to hold a dealer’s license. [1] In Michigan’s case, a vehicle is described as a motor vehicle, trailer coach or trailer weighing when it weights more than 2,500 pounds. Read on for some tips on how to get a license to sell used cars.

DMV Rules

Given that 50 states and the District of Columbia establish rules governing motor vehicles registered within their jurisdiction, a visit to your Department of Motor Vehicle will ensure that you’re complying with local statutes as a used car retailer. The process offered here is general and not specific to any state.

In Florida, individuals selling three or more used vehicles within a 12-month period are considered as a motor vehicle dealer. [2] Like most other states, Florida has multiple license types including franchise dealer, service facility and auctions. You’ll want to obtain the independent dealer license in the Sunshine State by filling out the appropriate application.

When you fill out your application and submit it to the DMV you’ll include the related fee. In Arizona, you’ll be required to undergo a criminal records check, by submitting a personal history form and fingerprint cards to the Motor Vehicle Division. [3] Expect your application to be denied if a felony conviction is found on your record. Arizona will reject your application if you’ve been convicted of fraud or a felony within the past five years.

Bonded and Insured

Your DMV will most likely require you to obtain a surety bond, an amount that can vary depending on what you’ll be selling. In Minnesota, that bond is $5,000 for dealers of boats and snowmobiles, but $50,000 for passenger vehicles. [4] As part of the bond and application process, the DMV may require zoning approval for you to sell cars. Check with your municipality about its requirements for you to sell an occasional car from your home. Submit that information with your application.

Once you receive approval from the DMV to operate a used car business, you’ll need to obtain liability insurance, to insure against loss. Liability limits vary from state to state and may necessitate you obtaining other insurance such as uninsured motorists liability protection.

References

[1] Michigan Department of State: Who Needs a Dealer License?

[2] State of Florida: Licensing Requirements for Motor Vehicle Dealers

[3] Arizona Department of Transportation: Licensing Information

[4] State of Minnesota: Motor Vehicle Dealers License

In 2008, the Toyota Motor Corp. replaced General Motors as the world’s largest automaker, ending a 77-year reign by GM. Toyota held onto the number one spot for three years before GM overtook it in 2011. GM moved ahead as it took advantage of Toyota’s production troubles, but in the first quarter of 2012 Toyota is once again back on top.

Toyota on Top

Toyota sold approximately 2.49 million units for the first three months of 2012 according to Automotive News. GM sold 2.28 million vehicles followed closely by Volkswagen AG at 2.18 million units. All three manufacturers are locked in a tight race this year, with Toyota enjoying an 18 percent increase in sales through March. That number is all the more impressive given that its production network wasn’t impacted until March 11, 2011, when Japan was struck by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake. The quake also triggered a tsunami and a nuclear plant meltdown, putting additional pressure on Japan’s infrastructure. The damage affected Toyota and Honda production and distribution the most with both car manufacturers losing sales in 2011. Production for both automakers has now returned to normal.

You're number one...you really are!

Quality Problems

Toyota, bent on wresting the top spot from GM soon learned how risky it is to make sales its top objective. A series of highly-publicized quality issues including multiple runaway Toyota reports took the edge off of its sales in 2010, enabling GM to regain the lead. That led to its chairman, Akio Toyoda, to apologize for “betraying its roots as a quality automaker.”

Volkswagen has its own designs on the top spot too, making known its Strategy 2018 plan in 2008, which announced “…its goal of becoming the car industry’s global market leader in terms of unit sales.” It seems likely that Volkswagen will reach its goal by next year, given its strong position in China, the world’s largest consumer market for new cars. GM is also strong in China, but Toyota is well behind the two. Still, Toyota’s global network could keep it in the hunt for years to come.

Here Comes Hyundai

Gaining steam is the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group, the Korean juggernaut that desires to beat Toyota. Toyota may no longer be No. 1 if and when that happens, but Hyundai’s growth in North America and Europe demonstrates that the company isn’t satisfied with the No. 4 spot. Hyundai’s chairman, Chung Mong-koo, sees stiffer competition and slower growth for 2012, but still expects that Hyundai Kia sales will top 7 million units in 2012.

None of this, of course, compares to what is really important to automakers and that is its profits. Without a hefty amount of cash in reserves, no automaker will thrive the next time the global economy takes a hit. That next hit may come soon if Europe’s current economic woes worsen and drag down the rest of the world.

Picture: Saint Jean Baptiste, créé vers 1513-1516 par Léonard de Vinci.

Chevrolet introduced its Corvette sports car nearly 60 years ago and the bow-tie brand hasn’t been the same since. Corvette single-handedly transformed Chevrolet, setting it apart from arch-rival Ford by offering a truly halo product. Indeed, “Chevrolet” and “Corvette” are rarely mentioned in the same breath as this classic model has achieved brand status all by itself.

Hot Cars: Classical Corvettes

The Corvette is recognized as America’s oldest continuously built sports car. It also has the dubious distinction of being a prime target of thieves, with just over one in 10 models produced from 1981 to 2011 stolen in the United States including Puerto Rico. That information comes from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, a not-for-profit organization formed in 1912 dedicated solely to prevent, detect and vanquish insurance fraud and vehicle theft. The NICB raises awareness of the scourge of vehicle theft and is itself supported by insurance companies.

The NICB reviewed Corvette theft data from 1953 to 2011, finding 134,731 theft records. That number, however, doesn’t give an accurate picture of the number of Corvettes stolen as the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration only began requiring vehicle identification numbers (VINs) starting with the 1981 model year.

Most Stolen Models

From 1981 through 2011, some 90,427 Corvettes were reported as stolen in the United States. Over the same period, 862,918 Corvettes were produced, reaching peak production of 51,547 units in 1984. The 1984 model is also the most stolen, with 8,554 thefts reported. In second place was the 1981 model with 8,262 recorded thefts followed by the 1979 edition with 6,399 thefts. Notably, the top 10 years for stolen Corvettes spans model years 1976 to 1986, accounting for 55,132 units stolen. No 1983 model was produced.

The top 10 Corvette theft states were California, Florida, Texas, New York, Michigan, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts, Ohio and Missouri. These 10 states accounted for 63,409 thefts with the Golden State recording 14,002 thefts followed by Florida at 8,731 and Texas at 8,198.

A Layered Approach

Notably, vehicle thefts are declining across the board as car manufacturers and owners take the steps necessary to thwart thieves. The NICB recommends owners employ a “layered approach” to auto theft prevention by first using some common sense. That means removing the keys from the ignition, locking your doors and parking in a well-lit area.

Three other steps are also very helpful and include installing a warning device, an immobilizing device and a tracking device. Chevrolet, through GM’s OnStar subsidiary, also offers a stolen vehicle slowdown service. However, this service kicks in only after the owner files a report with the police and OnStar is notified by the authorities. Precious time can be lost, especially if the car is shipped abroad, thus owners should have other technologies in place.

How You Can Help

The NICB also relies on citizen vigilance to stop stolen car crime and insurance fraud. You can anonymously report an incident by calling 1-800-835-6422, by texting keyword “fraud” to TIP411 (847411) or by visiting its website. And, yes, there is an app for that, one that is suitable for iPhone and iPad users.

Will Corvette crime continue to fall? Perhaps, but with the seventh-generation model slated to appear for the 2014 model year, older models will quickly assume “classical” status even if the cars haven’t reached a certain age. Diligence on the part of owners can reduce Corvette thefts as can the assistance of an aware general public.

Photo courtesy of General Motors Company.

This small SUV is set to debut in Paris this September.

Chevrolet has a crossover SUV ready to slot below the Equinox, but that model will not be sold in the United States. The Chevrolet Trax is a subcompact sport utility vehicle model that will make its debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show this September, a five-passenger vehicle that will be sold in more than 140 countries.

No Sale

GM explained that the Trax will not be sold stateside “because of the strong position of the Equinox.” The Equinox serves as the entry-level SUV in Chevrolet’s U.S. portfolio, a midsize crossover SUV that has been bolstering sales for the bow-tie brand. Indeed, the Chevy Equinox has been rolling off of dealer lots fast, with Motor Trend reporting a 30-day supply in March 2012. That’s up from an extremely low 13-day supply we’ve seen in recent years.

What will the Trax offer to Chevrolet in the markets where it will be sold? Mary Barra, GM senior vice president of Product Development noted, “The Trax provides Chevrolet an entry into a growing small SUV segment and delivers the flexibility, great fuel economy and car-like handling that urban explorers around the world require.” In other words, GM will offer a model that competes with Mitsubishi’s Outlander Sport and the Suzuki SX4 crossover, among others.

New Chevrolet Products

Making a big deal about a new model that is not slated for U.S. sale is nothing new for GM, however that can change. The replacement for the Chevrolet Colorado is already on sale in some markets, including in Thailand where it is produced, but initially GM announced that it had no plans for selling it in North America a truck now due here in 2013. Another model, the Chevrolet Trailblazer, has also been introduced and is a midsize SUV powered by a diesel engine. The Trailblazer name is familiar to Chevy SUV faithful, but when sales begin next month, the U.S. won’t be on the distribution list reports USA Today.

Not much is known about the Chevrolet Trax other than what can be gauged from the one photo offered and supplied here. Likely, the Trax rides on the same global B-platform that powers the Chevrolet Sonic, a subcompact hatchback and sedan that was introduced in 2011. Notably the all-new Buick Encore, slated to arrive in the U.S. in 2013, is based on that platform. Perhaps GM wanted to avoid blending two of its four U.S. “swim lanes” by selling both the Buick Encore and the Chevy Trax in the same market, although the preliminary information about each model shows some important differences including body style, engine choice and interior layout.

Other Models

GM faithful have been disappointed before by corporate decisions that have kept certain products outside of the U.S. market. Those vehicles include concept models, such as the GMC Granite, that were well-received by auto show attendees. The Granite’s demise, however, is due most likely to another model heading to Buick-GMC showrooms, none other than the previously mentioned Buick Encore.

Photo courtesy of General Motors.

Under the hood of this Sonata lies a turbocharged engine.

The 2013 Hyundai Sonata continues where the previous model year sedan left off, bringing to customers a roomy five-passenger sedan that is big on value, looks and fuel efficiency. This model also has performance credentials to offer as a 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder engine powers the Sonata 2.0T edition.

Engine and Transmission

Hyundai continues to advance a trend whereby V-6 engines are disappearing from the midsize sedan segment. Those manufacturers still offering the larger engines typically claim a 10 percent sell rate as customers overwhelming choose smaller, lighter and more fuel efficient four cylinder engines.

Recognizing that some buyers still want the power a V-6 engine delivers, Hyundai produces the Sonata 2.0T, a turbocharged edition powered by a 2.0-liter 16-valve four. This model makes 274 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 269 foot-pounds of torque in a 1,750 to 4,500 rpm range. This aluminum engine measures 3.38 inches bore by 3.38 inches stroke and has a 9.5 to 1 compression ratio. Hyundai pairs this engine with a SHIFTRONIC 6-speed automatic transmission with an OD lock-up torque converter. Paddle shifters are included with the SE model.

Fuel Efficiency

With its 2013 Sonata 2.0T, Hyundai effectively demonstrates that performance and fuel economy are not mutually exclusive. The EPA rates the turbo Sonata at 22 mpg city, 34 mpg highway. This vehicle takes regular grade gasoline.

Outfitted with an 18.5-gallon fuel tank, the Sonata 2.0T has a cruising range of 629 miles (34 mpg x 18.5). That’s enough fuel to take you from Detroit to New York City on one tank of fuel. For even better range, consider the Sonata Hybrid.

Sonata 2.0T Dimensions

Built on a 110.0 wheelbase, the 2013 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T is 189.8 inches long, 72.2 inches wide and 57.9 inches tall. This vehicle has a coefficient of drag measuring 0.28.

Total passenger volume measures 103.8 cubic feet. The Sonata offers 16.4 cubic feet of trunk capacity. This vehicle weighs from 3,338 to 3,452 pounds. Towing is not recommended.

Front leg room capacity is 45.5 inches; rear leg room comes in at 34.6 inches. Front shoulder room measures 57.9 inches; rear shoulder room measures 56.7 inches. Front hip room is 55.2 inches; rear hip room is 54.9 inches. Head room measures 40.0 inches up front and 38.1 inches in the back. Slight variations in head room exists in sedans equipped with a sunroof.

Model Facts

The Sonata 2.0T is offered in SE and Limited editions and is priced from $25,850. Among the many features offered are power-folding heated side mirrors, automatic projector-beam head lamps, front fog lights, 18-inch silver aluminum alloy wheels set within all-season tires and two sunroof options.

Inside, leather trim is standard with leather touches found on the steering wheel, the door inserts and on the shift knob. This model comes with tilt and telescopic steering wheel, cruise control and sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors.

Every Sonata 2.0T comes with remote keyless entry, push button start, power windows and door locks, two 12-volt power outlets, 8-way power driver’s seats with lumbar support and heated front seats. Heated rear seats are standard with the Limited edition.

Also standard is a 6-speaker audio system with 7- and 9-speaker systems available or optional elsewhere. HD Radio is optional with the SE and standard with the Limited. USB jacks, a shark fin antenna and Blue Link telematics — Hyundai’s proprietary system — are standard.

Photo courtesy of Hyundai North America.

TechShop Detroit offers the tools Ford employees need to innovate.

Think “Ford” and you may immediately call to mind a number of products including this brand’s F-150 pickup truck line, the Fusion sedan or a host of other models including the Taurus sedan, Explorer crossover and, of course, Mustang. Some people know that the Ford Motor Company is also a technological company, having partnered with Microsoft in 2008 to bring SYNC technology to its vehicles. That technology has been improved and now includes MyFord Touch, the latest iteration of its in-car communication and entertainment system.

Innovation Pool

Beyond infotainment, every Ford vehicle is comprised of thousands of parts, many that were conceived in-house and carry patents. Indeed, Ford’s portfolio of existing and pending patents currently numbers more than 17,000 worldwide, a number that is certain to increase rapidly as the company seeks to drive innovation through its partnership with TechShop, a membership-based workshop located on Ford property in Dearborn, Mich., a suburb of Detroit.

TechShop is a Menlo Park, Calif., company that was founded in 2006. With five locations in California, Michigan and North Carolina, the company provides workshops where people can come in, use its equipment and tools, and make something. Its equipment ranges from sheet metal equipment and sewing machines to hand tools, machinery and plastics. Complex computer equipment is available too including 2D/3D CAD tools. Instructors are on hand to offer guidance.

Ford employees gain access to tools they probably would not own to innovate.

Spirit of Innovation

Ford provided the location for TechShop to open in Michigan, as a way to encourage its own employees to embrace innovation. Founder Henry Ford built his first motorized vehicle in his own backyard shed and the company continues to harness Henry’s spirit of innovation through Ford Global Technologies, its intellectual property team.

Ford Global Technologies offers an Employee Patent Incentive Award program to encourage employee innovation and reward inventors accordingly. People who submit an invention worthy of patent consideration gain a free three-month membership to TechShop Detroit. Memberships typically cost $125 per month, thus eligible employees save $375.

Ford Global Technologies

Bill Coughlin, CEO of Ford Global Technologies worked with Ford Land, a commercial real estate company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company. Coughlin heads up the domestic auto industry’s only intellectual property team with a licensing arm, helping to advance innovation among Ford engineers.

Said Coughlin, “Innovation and invention are at the core of Ford Motor Company. When I heard about TechShop and how they are inspiring and helping a new generation of inventors, I had to find a way to lure them to Detroit. Not only is it a great opportunity for the community, but it will be a strategic tool to spur creativity and new ideas within the Ford engineering community to help us continue to build our intellectual property portfolio.”

Coughlin believes that Ford will see approximately 2,000 incentive memberships awarded to company employees this year. Year to date, invention submissions are up 30 percent over 2011, as Ford employees conceive ideas and provide an inventive solution.

An early May open house allowed inventors to showcase their DIY projects.

Inventor Compensation

Besides engineers, Ford says that designers and scientists who work in the auto industry are among those that are taking their ideas and inventing new products. Ford may use these inventions in future vehicles or license them to other companies. Inventors are compensated, but the company doesn’t release specific financial information. Coughlin told Wards Auto that repeat inventors can fare quite well, receiving enough compensation to pay for their “retirement villa.”

Among the Ford employees who signed up with TechShop Detroit is John Jaranson, a technical specialist. Jaranson has a talent for making things work well and look cooler, using his skills in a research lab focused on improving car seats.

Jaranson’s patents are related to making car seats thinner and lighter, without sacrificing comfort. He signed up for TechShop last December and soon developed a copper shield used to protect the walls of his cottage that he heats with a wood-burning stove. Jaranson’s decorative cattail plant design matches the fauna found in the river that runs behind his cabin.

Jaranson and team members recently developed an adjustable kick plate from laser-cut plastic, assembling it at TechShop and bringing it to the lab where it is used for ingress/egress research. Ford’s partnership with TechShop not only provides an avenue for invention, but can bring forth a host of new products for personal and business application.

TechShop enables members to exercise creativity with this fellow showing off his bass.

Photos courtesy of the Ford Motor Company.

Slow sales may not kill the Sedona.
A replacement is expected in 2014.

The shrinking minivan segment will lose one more name for the 2013 model year as Kia has told “The Car Connection” that it is ending production of the Sedona this year. The Sedona was introduced in 2002 and replaced by the current generation model four years later. The name, however, will not disappear as a new Sedona is expected to reappear for the 2014 model year.

Minivan, MPV or Crossover?

Although a Kia spokesman says that the new Sedona will be minivan, there may be some room to differentiate it from the pack. Specifically, it may return as a minivan, but given its weak presence in a highly-competitive market, the new model could be a crossover SUV slotting above the Sorento. More likely the new Sorento will take on an MPV design, offering a look and functionality that is reminiscent of both a minivan and a crossover. Kia might possibly use the Sorento platform to build the Sedona, a cost-effective move that would allow for more parts to be shared.

Exiting the minivan segment has become a habit for quite a few automakers, as customers flee to more versatile crossovers. Ford, General Motors and Hyundai are among the automakers that have left the segment with Chrysler considering reducing its two-brand minivan to just one model. Chrysler, Dodge, Toyota, Honda and Nissan are among the car manufacturers competing in this segment. Volkswagen competes too, but its Routan minivan is built by Chrysler and it does not seem likely a new model will be offered when the current one disappears within the next few years.

The current Kia Sedona is simply not competitive as its rivals offer models that are more modern and better equipped. Quality problems plagued earlier models, but the current Sedona has largely overcome these issues. Even so, the Sedona is rarely mentioned in the same breath as its rivals and is not on anyone’s top buy list for minivans.

Looking Ahead

That the minivan segment survives is a testament of what manufacturers have done to help the top models remain competitive. Chrysler got the modern minivan segment underway three decades ago when it introduced Plymouth and Dodge models. Those vehicles were based on its K-car platform and likely saved Chrysler when it was battling for its life at the time. Today, the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan account for 40 percent of all segment sales, though the Toyota Sienna was the top-selling model in 2011.

Today’s minivan is also not appropriately named. These models are larger and heavier than ever before, with some vehicles topping 4,500 pounds. Initially, four cylinder engines were standard, but today’s models are largely powered by V-6 engines displacing at around 3.5-liters. These vehicles seat seven or eight, are typically front-wheel-drive and are loaded with creature comforts and features such as sliding doors, cup holders, rear entertainment systems and provide ample storage space.

Photo courtesy of Kia Motors.

Toyota's Kentucky engine plant supplies engines for three models including this Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Toyota endured a beat down in sales in 2011 following a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that hit its manufacturing infrastructure in Japan last spring. Unlike its competitors, which enjoyed a modest to good rebound last year, Toyota’s U.S. sales fell by 7 percent. The picture for 2012 is a far different one as Toyota is back on track with its infrastructure now repaired. Through April 2012 Toyota’s U.S. sales are up by 12.1 percent outpacing its chief competitors except for the Chrysler Group.

Expansion Brings Jobs

In anticipation of increased demand for its most popular products such as its Camry sedan, Toyota has announced that it will expand its Georgetown, Ky., engine plant, investing $30 million to increase four cylinder engine capacity by more than 100,000 units annually. The project is expected to be completed by August 2013, creating 80 new jobs at its plant located 30 minutes north of Lexington.

Besides the Camry, the Georgetown plant will supply engines for the Kentucky-built Camry Hybrid and the Ontario-built RAV4. Total employment through its Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky subsidiary will rise to nearly 6,700 jobs and just shy of a $6 billion investment. TMMK was established in 1986 and opened in 1988 and represents Toyota’s largest manufacturing facility outside of Japan.

Additional North American Investments

The TMMK expansion follows closely on the heels of other announcements Toyota has made since February 2012 that affect plants in West Virginia and Canada. The company has committed to invest $565 million and will be adding nearly 1,000 jobs cumulatively. Said Steve St. Angelo, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., “This engine production increase, and the several announcements before it, reflect our growing optimism for an improving North American market.”

“I am thrilled that Toyota is increasing its assembly capacity at the Georgetown plant,” said Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. Toyota’s investment means more jobs and a boost for Central Kentucky at a time when our economic recovery needs momentum. Clearly, Toyota is committed to its presence in the Commonwealth.”

Overall Expansion Impact

Once the plant expansion has been completed, engine build capacity will top 500,000 units in Kentucky and 1.2 million units per year in the U.S. In addition to Kentucky, Toyota has engine plants in Alabama and West Virginia. In total, Toyota operates 14 manufacturing plants in North America and employs about 37,000 people.

Related Articles

• Is the Toyota Camry Unfairly Vilified? (wheels.blogs.nytimes.com)
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• 2012 Toyota Camry SE: Beep (blogs.insideline.com)