SAN ANTONIO – Toyota on Friday showed off the next generation of its premier pickup, the 2022 Tundra, in San Antonio.
The pickup will be built at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas plant in San Antonio, which also built the previous Toyota Tundra model.
Over 2,000 employees celebrated the new truck alongside special guests. Governor Greg Abbott, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolf, and Mayor Ron Nirenberg were all in attendance.
“These trucks that are leading the world on our roadways through the country and really through out the world is exciting and we want to celebrate that,” said Nirenberg.
The new Tundra will sell for roughly $35,950, according to Toyota. It’s equipped with a 14-inch touchscreen inside the car and can tow up to 12,000 pounds.
Monica Trevino is a quality engineer with Toyota. She said their team worked with designers, and suppliers to help bring the new Tundra to life.
Trevino said it’s an accomplishment to see their hard work become a reality.
“To see a truck that you know you had a hand in building is an amazing building and you feel a sense of pride to say I was a part of that,” she said.
The manufacturing could help the U.S. with a nationwide shortage in cars due to supply chain issues and a computer chip shortage.
In late August, Toyota slashed production by roughly 40% in Japan and North America for two months. The rollout of the new Tundra will give consumers hope that Toyota is starting to round the corner on some of those shortages.
Experts say it may not be until 2023 that car companies will overcome the spike in demand and build up inventory.
Read more:
Until 2023? Parts shortage will keep auto prices sky-high
Under delta, supply chain strains, Toyota slashes production