Toyota invests hundreds of millions to increase gasoline engine production

Not everything is hybrid and eletric cars, staff. Far from it. In fact, Toyota needs more gasoline-powered engines, not its most frugal in-line four. On Thursday, the automaker said it was making a $ 210 million investment in its Buffalo, West Virginia plant to increase production of V6 engines.

It is good news for employment in the state, as Toyota will need to hire another 100 workers to build a new third shift to run on site. Toyota said the plant is also busy producing engines for the overpopulated RAV4, so it will require additional workforce for the expanded production of the V6 engine.

The money will specifically help to create a flexible production line, with new machines and equipment in the V6 engine line. Toyota said the move would allow the company to better respond to increased demand at its various plants that make cars with six-cylinder engines in the United States and Canada. There will be an additional 5,900 engines leaving the factory each month, for a grand total of more than 70,000 per year. It is a very clear sign that Toyota also sees value in the production of gasoline engines, even when the industry shifts to electrified powertrains. We are still a long way from mass adoption of EV.