Overview NUMMI

the nummi plant in fremont, california

nummi established @ former general motors fremont assembly site had been closed 2 years earlier in 1982 (gm plant since 1962). gm , toyota reopened factory joint venture in 1984 manufacture vehicles sold under both brands.

gm saw joint venture opportunity learn lean manufacturing japanese company, while toyota gained first manufacturing base in north america , chance implement taylorism-inspired production system in american labor environment, avoiding possible import restrictions. gm employees went toyota s takaoka plant in japan , improved production @ nummi, spring hill , other sites, particularly after jack smith spread program.

up may 2010, nummi built average of 6000 vehicles week, or 8 million cars , trucks since opening in 1984. in 1997, nummi produced 357,809 cars , trucks, peaking @ 428,633 units in 2006.

gm pulled out of venture in june 2009 due bankruptcy, , several months later toyota announced plans pull out march 2010. closure opposed city officials, including fremont mayor bob wasserman, lobbied keep nummi in city. however, @ 9:40am on april 1, 2010, plant produced last car, red toyota corolla s believed destined museum in japan. production of corollas in north america moved toyota motor manufacturing mississippi s assembly plant in blue springs, mississippi , toyota motor manufacturing canada s north assembly plant in cambridge, ontario.

on may 20, 2010, announced tesla motors had purchased part of nummi plant , rename tesla factory, producing tesla model s. 2016, plant had 6,000 employees, plans more.