IRVINE, Calif., (August 2, 2005) – Toyota committed itself to the North American market in 1967 when it began selling lift trucks in the United States, and it never looked back. In 1970, Toyota opened its doors in Canada and began doing business in Mexico in 1993.

The company further committed itself to the North American market in 1990 when it rolled the first lift truck off the line at the brand new Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing (TIEM) facility in Columbus, Ind. Since then, the plant has grown six-fold from its initial employment to 714 TIEM associates, increased production more than 10-fold and tripled in physical size. Today, more than 99 percent of the trucks sold in North America are manufactured in the United States.

The continued expansion of the TIEM facility exemplifies Toyota’s ongoing commitment to the North American market. Since the plant’s inception, the company has invested more than $111 million dollars in eight expansions, including the most recent $11 million, 108,000-square-foot project, which was completed in April 2005.

The TIEM campus now totals 859,000 square feet and is the size of 15 football fields. It boasts 541,000 square feet of manufacturing space, 102,000 square feet for parts distribution, a 51,800-square-foot National Customer Center, 13,000-square-foot office expansion and a 109,000-square-foot distribution center.

In addition to the TIEM facility, Toyota also operates a 163,200-square-foot National Parts Distribution Center in Toronto, Ontario; its Mexican headquarters in Mexico City, Mexico, as well as two other offices in Mexico; and its U.S. sales headquarters in Irvine, Calf.

With a North American dealer network extending as far north as Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada, west as Victoria, British Columbia, east as St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador and south as Mexico City, Mexico, Toyota’s reach is unmatched. The company has 80 dealers spanning North America dedicated to serving Toyota customers.

TMHU is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and offers a full line of high-quality lift trucks sold under the Toyota brand. Built on a reputation for excellence, Toyota is known for its quality, reliability and durability. Third-party research indicates Toyota lift trucks rank highest in quality and value among the top competitors. Most of the Toyota lift trucks sold in the United States are manufactured in Columbus, Ind.

Toyota’s commitment to excellence in customer service extends nationwide. Seventy authorized Toyota Industrial Equipment dealers with a total of 186 dealership locations throughout the United States offer comprehensive customer service support, including one-stop shopping for both new and Certified Used lift trucks, parts, service and financing. For more information on TMHU, please visit www.toyotaforklift.com or call 1-800-226-0009.