Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) has began producing the Lexus NX and Lexus NX Hybrid compact luxurious SUVs in Cambridge, Ont., the corporate mentioned April 6.

The automaker first mentioned in April 2019 that it might assemble the 2 automobiles in Ontario. Toyota ended up with further capability on the Cambridge plant after saying in March 2019 it might shift manufacturing of the hybrid RAV4 SUV to its plant in Georgetown, Kentucky.

In 2018, the corporate dedicated to take a position $1.4 billion in its Cambridge and Woodstock crops. The federal authorities and Ontario authorities every dedicated $110 million to assist the funding.

The automaker transformed the crops to the corporate’s Toyota New International Structure (TNGA) platform to permit for elevated flexibility, additional manufacturing effectivity, and new merchandise.

“This strategic funding allowed TMMC to shift its manufacturing to satisfy the calls for of North America’s quickly rising SUV and electrified car markets, initially by means of the manufacturing of the market-leading Toyota RAV4 and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid,” TMMC mentioned in an announcement April 6. “This manufacturing line now provides Lexus NX and Lexus NX Hybrid to the combination.”

“Not solely are we Canada’s largest auto producer, we’re additionally Canada’s main maker of electrified automobiles,” TMMC President Frank Voss mentioned. 

Complete first-quarter Canadian gross sales this 12 months of the Lexus NX remained flat, totaling 1,456 items in contrast with the identical interval in 2021. U.S. gross sales plunged 30 per cent to 10,109 within the first three months of 2022.