Toyota Kentucky begins RAV-4 hybrid production

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky has 9 million square feet on 1,300 acres with about 10,000 employees. After 40 years it still continues to grow.

What’s new: production of a new RAV-4 hybrid, in about three years or less a new advanced paint facility and money invested into BCTC to get the next generation of workers ready for new age manufacturing jobs.

The plant is also seeing a resource leave — its president is retiring.

“Our Kentucky plant is expanding Toyota’s U.S. North American footprint with the start of production of the new RAV-4 hybrid,” said Chad Miller, Toyota Kentucky vice president of manufacturing business operations.

The auto company said the RAV-4 is Toyota’s number one selling vehicle.

“It is safe to say that production on this car has started today because the cars that we are building today are sellable cars that we will ship to dealers,” said Kerry Creech, TMMK president.

Creech said the new RAV-4 hybrid and the new Highlander will create about 150 new jobs.

For the company this is exciting news. On the other hand, this is TMMK President Kerry Creech’s last week at work. He’s retiring after 36 and a half years. He started his career on the production line.

“My biggest concern is helping people’s career grow so they can experience the same things I’ve experienced. That’s the legacy I want to leave and hopefully I’ve left it,” Creech said.

But before he leaves, one last footnote on an almost four-decade career — Gov. Beshear makes TMMK President Creech a Kentucky Colonel.

Creech took on the role as president in July 2023.

Credit: Darnell Crenshaw/WKYT