Toyota Expands Alabama Plant to Build Differentials for Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia

Toyota has announced an upgrade to its Alabama facility to produce differentials for its truck-based models: Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia. The project, part of a $282 million investment announced last year, has also created 350 new jobs.

The differential is one of the most crucial components in a drivetrain, allowing the wheels on the same axle to rotate at different speeds—especially while turning. For large, truck-based models like the Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia, a well-engineered differential ensures torque is distributed efficiently across the wheels, improving traction and stability. This is particularly important during off-road driving and heavy-load conditions.

Some differentials can also be locked, forcing both wheels to spin at the same rate to prevent power from being wasted on a wheel with less traction. This feature is useful for low-speed maneuvers such as rock crawling.

Differentials for Heavy-Duty Performance

The production of differentials runs alongside Toyota Alabama’s long-standing engine operations. The facility supplies engines for seven of the Japanese automaker’s nine models assembled in North America, including inline-fours for vehicles such as the RAV4. In 2024 alone, the plant assembled more than 895,000 engines…

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