Toyota is one of the best established, largest and most successful car manufacturers. Its evergreen RAV4 model is threatening to dislodge the all-American favorite Ford F-150 from the top-selling spot in the US, and the Japanese giant is enjoying similar success elsewhere around the world. Naturally, meeting this demand for its products is no easy feat, which is why Toyota needs some serious manufacturing power. At Toyota’s massive factory in Georgetown, Kentucky, that’s exactly what it says, and for anyone interested in seeing how an automaker of this size works, tours of the vast site are available and open for booking.
The factory has 9 million square meters ‘under roof’, which is equivalent to 156 football fields. It can produce 550,000 vehicles annually and also produce 600,000 engines. These are hugely impressive numbers, even for an automaker the size of Toyota.
In addition to the advanced production methods, one of the highlights of the factory is a 1988 Camry that sits proudly in the reception area. This isn’t just any old Camry; it is the first ever made in America and is in absolutely pristine condition. Since then, millions more have come from Toyota’s evergreen Camry, so it seems fitting that this is the familiar face greeting interested guests. And it’s pretty easy to win over an audience with the historic Camry, as Toyota regularly welcomes tours of its massive factory.
Here’s what you need to know about Toyota’s Kentucky plant and its tours
But don’t get in your car yet, because these tours are not a pick-up and go situation. They require you to book directly online Toyota. If you have any doubts about the idea, there is also a 3½ minute virtual tour on that website.
There are hundreds of positive reviews online from those who enjoyed the 90-minute real-life tour, and here’s the great thing: it’s completely free. Just book online and note the guidelines, such as age restrictions (it’s for 8 years and over and minors must be accompanied by an adult), and that photography and mobile phone use is restricted in certain areas. Toyota reminds guests to dress appropriately for an industrial environment, and guests 18 years and older will need a valid photo ID.
As the plant has grown over the years, Toyota has invested $11 billion in it, keeping the plant at the cutting edge of what is possible in automotive manufacturing. After all, Toyota’s latest beefed-up and hybridized vehicles are a little more complex than that beloved old-school Camry from the ’80s. Additionally, the plant provides more than 9,400 jobs and has donated more than $154 million to local nonprofits, meaning it’s a big deal not only for Toyota, but for much of the community.
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