Toyota of West Virginia celebrating new milestone

Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia has reached the ten millionth unit mark at its Buffalo plant.

In honor of the achievement, U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller will join Toyota Motor Corporation Honorary Chairman Dr. Shoichiro Toyoda and other dignitaries Wednesday afternoon for a special celebration ceremony.

Rockefeller, whose work in bringing Toyota to West Virginia is one of the signature accomplishments of his nearly 50-year career in public service, is scheduled to speak at the event.

The news comes months after Toyota announced plans to spend $45 million to expand the Buffalo plant in order to increase the plant’s annual production capacity of six-speed automatic transmissions from about 400,000 to 520,000. The expansion also created around 80 jobs.

The plant produces transmissions for the Avalon, Camry, Lexus RX350, Sienna and Venza.

The ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. at the Buffalo plant located on Sugar Maple Lane.