More Toyota jobs, this time in Alabama

One thing that has always irked me especially ever since adorning the Toyota emblem across my chest is the whole buy American ideology.  It’s not that I’m against buying American even, but rather I dislike how it is sent towards Toyota vehicles, because the truth of the matter is that Toyota is and has been for a long while one of the most predominant American-made vehicles in the automotive industry.  In fact, this is a big part of why Handy Toyota of St. Albans, VT is so proud of every Toyota Camry we sell to our Burlington area customers, because the Toyota Camry is actually the Most American Car based on its production location, percentage of American made parts, and sheer quantity on our roads.  Take that so-called domestics.

In all seriousness I get it:  Toyota is “made” in Japan, therefore it is not a domestic.  But regardless of all the previous information, one thing is abundantly clear:  Toyota Motors USA cares about US jobs.  Literally thousands of people from across our great nation are employed by Toyota, and for that we at Handy Toyota of St. Albans, VT salute you big-T.  And today we are happy to report that Alabama has just had a new I4 engine facility opened as part of the $147 million Toyota has recently dumped into US jobs.

How many jobs, you ask?  Try a grand total of 240, which isn’t half bad.  Am I stating that Toyota’s engine plant in Alabama is going to cure the job woes of this country?  Of course not.  But between this plant and the few that opened previously, I once again tip my hat to Toyota for putting a dent in that seemingly unwavering unemployment number.

The new Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama plant is actually expanding in a sense, as the new I4 engine facility is an extension of a plant that’s been in operation for over 10 years.  This new I4 engine, used in such vehicles as the Toyota Rav4, will help the Canadian effort to push out Rav4s and the upcoming Rav4 EV, the all-electric variant that is soon to release.

Said Alabama Governor Robert Bentley:

“Now, ten years [after Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama's (TMMAL) opening, we have] made a major economic impact in this region.  TMMAL is an enduring, reliable and dedicated partner in building healthy communities in Alabama which can, in turn, strengthen our nation and our world.” -Toyota In The News, “Toyota Kicks Off I4 Engine Production In Alabama.”  toyotainthenews.com, October 13, 2011.

Finally, take a look at what these new 240 jobs will have a part in building.  Who knows… maybe they’ll be building your next engine.

• Toyota’s I4 or 4-cylinder engines produced at the TMMAL factory:

Toyota Camry

1. Toyota Camry
2. Toyota Highlander
3. Toyota Rav4
4. Toyota Sienna
5. Toyota Venza
• Toyota’s V6 and V8 engines produced at the TMMLA factory:
1. Toyota Tundra
2. Toyota Tacoma
3. Toyota Sequoia

Chris Dugan
Handy Toyota
St. Albans, VT  05478

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My angels arrive!

The girls arrived on schedule this past Wednesday and have been staying with Karen along with their parents Annie and Peter.  Annie’s brother Tommy is being married this afternoon so it is not a surprise when I say that everyone’s schedule has been stretched a bit thin over the past few days.  Annie and Faye are in the wedding party, and little Faye is so nervous with her role as one of the flower girls that one would think she is the bride.  When she arrived home last evening from attending the rehearsal festivities all she talked about was being so nervous.  Apparently the fact that she is the shortest of the flower girls places her first to walk down the aisle.  My hunch is that she will handle her role just fine.

This coming Monday morning the framing crew will be on the job site preparing to erect the steel frame for the new Handy Toyota store.  The crew foreman was on site yesterday taking final measurements and based on his demeanor all appeared to be satisfactory.  With some cooperation from Mother Nature, by this time next week I am hoping to have a picture or two in my blog of the framing progress, but for now check out the image below to see the mostly completed foundation!  It feels so good to have progressed to this point.

October is off to a reasonably good start here at Handy Toyota of St. Albans, VT.  The Toyota service crew is starting to rev up to meet the demands of getting vehicles ready for the winter months ahead.  New Toyota and pre-owned vehicle sales are on a normal October pace as well, so all and all unless something unexpected pops up, October is on the way to a good month.

I must be short this week.  My job at the wedding this afternoon is to be in charge of our granddaughter Marie.  She is the sweetest one year old that I have ever known.  The joy that she brings to our family is incredible.  We are so fortunate to have her.

The best to all and please have a laid back enjoyable week end.

Dan Luneau
Handy Toyota
St. Albans, VT  05478

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What’s with this weather?

While snow is not unusual in Vermont any time of the year (except maybe July) it has been a topsy-turvy couple of weeks for weather lately.  Two weeks ago our worst and most damaging snow storm of the year, last week hail, and yesterday cold with snow showers.  In between we’ve had some beautiful weather with some warm days and some cold, though, so it’s not all bad.  Oh well who knows what’s in store – we will have to wait and see.

For all those basketball fans, the Boston Celtics’ Rajon Rondo put on a performance yesterday that will go down as one of the best of all time for the Celtics.  With the exception of Paul Pierce everyone stepped up their game, and Rondo scored over 20 points, had 15 rebounds, and dished out 18 assists.  What an incredible performance by a man who refuses to lose and who is, by the way, barely over six feet tall. Wow!

The other night Handy Toyota team was honored at the Franklin County Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner and Silent Auction as the 2009 Large Business of the Year.  To quote Jamie West I can think of no business that is more deserving for the continued work in the community while providing good jobs to those willing to work.

The New York Yankees beat up the Boston Red Sox again, but these things have a way of turning themselves around as the season progresses.  I guess we will have to wait and see.  The Yankees, while playing great ball, still find themselves behind the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the overall stats.

On the cooking front I continue to experiment with Chicken Florentine recipes.  I will have something to report on the topic soon, but for now I’m finagling.  I might use this one for the Hood Cook-Off in Maine this November if it turns out well, and I am also working on different egg roll combination which look promising as well.

Kudo’s to Al’s French Fries for the recent prestigious James Beard Award.  They were voted one of America’s Best Classic Restaurants.  I guess they do represent that 1950s and ’60s era burger joint well!

Oh well that’s it for this go round, but I will be back in the blogosphere soon.

Tom “the Blogmeister” Young

Handy Toyota

St. Albans, VT 05478