Where Are Toyota Corollas Made? [Built In The USA or Japan?]

The Toyota Corolla has been a globally popular compact car in production since 1966.

Known for its reliability, fuel efficiency, and affordability, the Corolla has consistently ranked as one of the top-selling vehicles in the world.

In fact, as of 2021, more than 50 million Corolla models have been sold worldwide. The Toyota Corolla is produced at several facilities around the world.

These locations include countries in Asia, the Americas, and Europe.

The Corolla production process involves using advanced manufacturing techniques and technologies to ensure the highest quality of the finished product.

In this article, you will learn about the locations where are Toyota Corollas made.

Whether you’re a current Corolla owner or simply interested in the car manufacturing industry, this article has something for you.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Production History Of Toyota Corolla

With the Toyota Corolla being seen everywhere around the globe, one can safely assume that it is produced in many locations which is indeed true.

The car was originally manufactured at the Takaoka plant, which is present in Japan, but as demand for the Corolla grew, Toyota established production facilities in other countries worldwide.

Here is the list of the countries:

Brazil (Indaiatuba, São Paulo)
Canada (Cambridge, Ontario)
China (Tianjin)
Pakistan
Thailand
South Africa (Durban)
Taiwan
Vietnam
Turkey
United Kingdom (Derbyshire)
United States Of America (Mississippi)

The Corolla has also been produced or assembled in the following countries in the past:

Australia (Victoria)
Malaysia
New Zealand (Thames)
Philippines (Santa Rosa, Laguna)
India (Bangalore)
Indonesia (Jakarta)
Venezuela

This global expansion has allowed Toyota to meet the demand for the Corolla in different regions and markets worldwide.

It has also allowed the company to better serve its customers and adapt to changes in the automotive industry.

Mississippi Production Facility In The USA

The Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi plant, located in Blue Springs, Mississippi, is a key production facility for the Toyota Corolla in the United States.

The plant comprises a team of 2250 people and has a capacity of producing 170,000 vehicles annually.

Construction on the plant began in 2007 and was completed in 2011. Shortly after that, the facility began production of the Toyota Corolla.

The introduction of this plant has had a significant impact on the local economy, creating more than 4000 job vacancies and contributing $1.2 billion to Mississippi’s economy.

Upgrades Done For The Consumers

In 2018, the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi plant underwent a revamp to upgrade the facility with the latest technology.

This upgrade was designed to increase efficiency and ensure that the plant can produce high-quality Toyota Corolla models for American consumers.

The main operations at the facility include stamping, assembly, painting, and welding.

Most of these are extremely important final production steps, and the Mississippi plant has been nailing them for over a decade.

They have been a major factor in ensuring that every vehicle that heads out of there is reliable and can take a beating.

Manufacturing History In The US

Before the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi plant commenced production of the Toyota Corolla, the cars were produced at the NUMMI plant in Fremont, California.

The NUMMI plant was opened in 1984 as a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors to match Japanese production standards in the United States.

The NUMMI plant started producing the Toyota Corolla in 1986.

The quality of the Corolla produced at NUMMI was comparable to that of the Corolla produced in Japan, with similar flaws per 100 vehicles.

The production speed at NUMMI was roughly the same as at Toyota’s Japanese factories.

This made it clear that the decision to open a factory in the United States was a success, but what the future held for the Corolla was certainly different.

Shutting Down Of NUMMI Plant

However, in 2009, Toyota announced that it would shut down the NUMMI plant due to its distance from supplier lines.

The final Toyota Corolla was produced at NUMMI on April 1, 2010.

One month later, electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla announced that it would be buying most of the NUMMI plant area to use as a factory for its own vehicles.

Today, the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi plant is the primary manufacturing facility for the Toyota Corolla in the United States.

While the NUMMI plant is no longer in operation, it played a significant role in the history of Toyota production in the country and helped establish the Toyota Corolla as a popular and reliable car for American consumers.

Due to logistics costs and more, it was not economically viable to continue creating vehicles in the NUMMI plant.

Since then, the new home of the Corolla in Blue Springs, Mississippi, has certainly proved its worth.

Where Is The Corolla Being Produced In Japan?

In Japan, the Toyota Corolla is being produced at a total of 16 factories.

One of these factories is the Takaoka plant, operational since 1966.

The Takaoka plant was originally opened to manufacture the Corolla KE10, and it has not stopped production since.

Over the years, the Takaoka plant has consistently produced high-quality Toyota Corolla models for the Japanese market.

It has also played a key role in the global production of the Corolla, exporting cars to other countries around the world.

In addition to the Takaoka plant, there are 15 other factories in Japan that are producing the Toyota Corolla.

These facilities are equipped with the latest technology and techniques to ensure the highest quality and efficiency in the production of the car.

Together, these factories play a vital role in meeting the demand for the Toyota Corolla in Japan and around the world.

The reason for the Takaoka plant being discussed in detail is not only because it being the oldest one to manufacture the Corolla but also the fact that the quality of its production has been so high that the NUMMI plant, that was established in 1986, aimed to match this one.

How To Check The Production Location Of Your Toyota Corolla

If you own a Toyota Corolla and are curious about where it was produced, there is a simple way to find out.

All you need to do is check the VIN (vehicle identification number) of your car.

The VIN is a unique 17-digit code assigned to every car at the production time.

You can find it on a plate on the door jamb of the driver’s side and on the car’s registration documents and insurance policy.

Determine The Origin Of Your Car

To determine the origin of your Toyota Corolla, you will need to look at the first letter of the VIN. This letter represents the country where your car was made.

Here is a list of the countries and the corresponding letter at the beginning of the VIN:

J: Japan
K: Korea
L: England
W: Germany
Z: Italy
1, 4, or 5: USA
2: Canada
3: Mexico
6: Australia
7: New Zealand
8 or 9: South America

By looking at the first letter of your VIN, you can easily determine where your Toyota Corolla was produced.

Knowing the production location of your car can be interesting and can also help you understand more about its background and history.

It really takes no time to check this out. Although it won’t serve any purpose other than curing your boredom, it certainly is an interesting thing to note.

Checking the VIN number can be helpful if you are buying a Toyota Corolla and want to confirm its origin rather than taking the seller at its word.

Conclusion

Finally, I hope you know how to find out where are Toyota corollas made.

This globally popular compact car has reliably ranked as one of the most popular vehicles in the world, and it can be seen why.

From its inception at the Takaoka plant in Japan to its current production at 16 factories in Japan and various locations worldwide, the Toyota Corolla has come a long way.

The Corolla’s history is a testament to Toyota’s commitment to serving customers and adapting to the changing automotive industry.

It offers a plethora of features while not breaking the bank. What else could one ask for?

It doesn’t matter if you own a Corolla or are just a fan of this iconic car, it’s interesting to think about its journey from the production line to your driveway.