Plant marks its millionth vehicle with $120,000 in community grants
By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Five years after its first vehicles rolled off the line, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing has built its one-millionth vehicle in Huntsville, a milestone that speaks to how far North Alabama’s auto industry has come in a short time.
The $2.3 billion joint venture between Mazda and Toyota celebrated the milestone Oct. 28 with both of the models it builds, the Mazda CX-50 and the Toyota Corolla Cross, according to a company release.
The company credited its more than 4,500 team members for the achievement, saying the milestone belongs to the people who build the vehicles every day.
“Reaching one million vehicles is an extraordinary accomplishment,” said Erik Skaggs, senior vice president for Mazda Toyota Manufacturing.
To mark the occasion, the company awarded $120,000 in grants to four organizations: Calhoun Community College, Kids to Love, Morgan County Schools and the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association.
“Mazda Toyota Manufacturing has become an invaluable part of our community,” said Chip Cherry, president and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.
Since production began in 2021, the plant has become one of North Alabama’s largest employers, adding to a regional auto industry that includes Toyota Alabama’s engine plant in Huntsville and suppliers across the Tennessee Valley.
For local job seekers, the milestone reminds them that advanced manufacturing jobs are within reach. Calhoun Community College, one of this year’s grant recipients, offers training programs that feed directly into regional manufacturing careers.
Job openings at the plant are posted on the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing website, and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber offers guidance for applicants.