Toyota has inaugaurated a new $170m engine manufacturing facility in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
It is the company's first engine manufacturing plant in Latin America.
The new plant, which employs about 320 people, was constructed on a plot of land that covers an area of 872,500m2.
It is capable of manufacturing up to 108,000 units per year and will serve production of Toyota's 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter NR engines, which feature Dual VVT-I, four cylinders, and Flex Fuel.
The engines are utilized in the new Etios, which is produced in Brazil particularly for customers in Latin American and Caribbean markets.
The facility is one of Toyota's first outside Japan to have all the three production processes including casting, machining and assembly located at one site..
Toyota Latin America and the Caribbean CEO and Toyota do Brasil chairman Steve St. Angelo said: "Toyota remains committed to the growth of the Latin America region. We feel strongly about doing our part to help stimulate the region's economy.
"On top of our regional manufacturing operations in Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela this new engine facility is testament to Toyota's long-term strategy aimed at helping Latin America and the Caribbean emerge as a global economic power in the coming decades."
Toyota said it wants to achieve sustainable growth by investing in several plants across the globe. This is different from its earlier approach where it was focused more on high-volume production.
The company's production in Brazil dates back to 1959 with a Complete Knock Down facility of Toyota do Brasil, its first manufacturing affiliate outside of Japan.
