Where are Toyota Tacomas Made?

The Toyota Tacoma has been built in various locations throughout its history, including the US and Mexico, all with adherence to Toyota's global quality standards.

Written by Brian Jones
Researched by Art Michalik

Last updated: 2 November 2023

Key Points:

First Gen (1995-2004): Made in Fremont, California, USA.
Second Gen (2005-2015): Made in Fremont, California and Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
Third Gen (2016-2023): Made in Tijuana, Apaseo el Grande, Mexico, and San Antonio, Texas, USA (until 2021).
Fourth Gen (2024+): Made in Apaseo el Grande and Tijuana, Mexico.
Consistent quality is maintained regardless of production location.
A VIN decoder can be used to identify your Tacoma's origin (country and plant).

Toyota moved Tacoma production to Mexico in 2021 to better group similar platforms. However, this isn’t the first time Toyota has relocated Tacoma production.

So you might be wondering: Where are Toyota Tacomas made now and in the past?

One thing is for sure. No matter where Toyota builds Tacoma trucks, there’s little concern about quality. Toyota has a global quality assurance commitment that ensures all Tacomas are manufactured to exactly the same standards regardless of plant location.

Let’s dive into the various Toyota manufacturing plants that have produced Tacoma trucks. We will also show you how to determine the factory that produced your Tacoma based solely on the VIN.

Manufacturing Locations by Model Year

First Generation (1995-2004)

The first Toyota Tacoma hit the road in 1995. It replaced the Toyota Pickup with production from the NUMMI plant in the San Francisco Bay area.

The New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) plant was a manufacturing company in Fremont, California, that GM and Toyota jointly owned.

The plant opened in 1984 and continued production of automobiles through 2010 when it closed. At the peak of annual production, the plant produced more than 428,000 vehicles in 2006.

After closing the factory, Tesla purchased the building. It reopened in 2010 and is now known as the Tesla Fremont Factory.

Second Generation (2005-2015)

TMMBC plant — Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico manufacturing plant (TMMBC)

Toyota produced the 2nd gen Tacoma in two locations.

Until its closure, the NUMMI plant in Fremont, CA continued to pump out Tacoma models.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California (TMMBC) also handled some Tacoma production. This manufacturing facility opened in 2002 in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. This site comprises 700 acres and can produce up to 166,000 vehicles annually.

Third Generation (2016-2023)

TMMGT plant — Apaseo el Grande manufacturing plant (TMMGT)

Three locations manufactured the 3rd gen Tacoma.

Some Tacoma models have been produced at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California (TMMBC) plant, while Toyota manufactured some later models at the Apaseo el Grande (TMMGT) plant.

Located in Apaseo el Grande, Guanajuato, Mexico, Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Guanajuato (TMMGT) has been open since the end of 2019. This plant can produce up to 100,000 vehicles per year.

The Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas (TMMTX) plant manufactured some 2015 to 2021 Tacoma models. The facility continues to operate in San Antonio, Texas, although Tacoma production has ceased.

Fourth Generation (2024+)

The 4^th gen Tacoma has begun production for the 2024 model year. For now, there are two locations where Toyota truck will manufacture the Tacoma, both in Mexico.

Some Tacoma production will come from the Apaseo el Grande (TMMGT) plant. Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California (TMMBC) will also manufacture the truck.

(Wikipedia)

How to Determine Where Your Tacoma Was Made

To determine where a particular Tacoma was produced, you can look at the VIN (vehicle identification number). This number gives you the code to determine what country and plant produced the truck.

Locate by Country

The first number in the VIN determines the country of manufacture.

Here is the breakdown found on Tacoma models:

1: United States
3: Mexico
4: United States
5: United States
7: United States

Locate by Plant

You can also determine the plant location of your Tacoma based on the VIN. The 11^th digit shows you the plant number.

Here are the possibilities for the Tacoma:

M: Tijuana, Baja CA, Mexico (TMMBC)
T: Apaseo el Grande, Guanajuato, Mexico (TMMGT)
X: San Antonio, TX, US (TMMTX)
Z: Fremont, CA, US (NUMMI)

(Wikipedia)

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the truck could have been built in the United States or Mexico, depending on the generation. There have been four plants that have produced the Tacoma trucks, located in Fremont (CA), San Antonio (TX), Apaseo el Grande, Guanajuato (Mex) and Tijuana, Baja California (Mex).

It doesn’t. Toyota adheres to strict manufacturing guidelines that ensure all Tacoma trucks are built with the same level of care no matter where production occurs. A Tacoma manufactured in Mexico will be built to the same quality standard as in the United States.

The first digit of the VIN tells you what country the Tacoma was made in. A 1, 4, 5 or 7 indicates it was produced in the United States, while three shows it is from Mexico. If you want to dive even deeper, the 11^th digit gives you more information about the plant location.

Every Tacoma Tells a Story

If you drive a Tacoma, it can be interesting to figure out where it came from. These Tacos have been made all over North America but continue to provide the same level of reliability you’ve come to love and depend on.

It should be interesting to see what Toyota does in the future with manufacturing. The automaker seems to have perfectly aligned itself to put like models in the same facilities, but there will probably be changes in the future.

Where are Toyota Tacomas Made?

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