Texas Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) visited Toyota’s Motor Manufacturing facility in San Antonio, Texas, earlier this week with federal officials to highlight the company’s technological advancements and its continued commitment to job growth.
United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling joined Sen. Cruz in a tour of the facility where they also spoke to employees about their jobs and the company as a whole. The group later told reporters that they appreciated how Toyota had incorporated AI technologies without sacrificing jobs.
“One of the things this factory illustrates is that this factory has a lot of robotics built,” Sen. Cruz said. “It has a lot of AI built in, and yet they’re hiring 2,000 additional workers, and what the technology is enabling those workers to do is be even more productive.”
This observation contrasts with concerns expressed by some Democratic lawmakers, including Representative Greg Casar (D-TX), who recently introduced legislation to tax AI companies and prevent AI-driven job displacement.
Secretary Lutnick echoed Sen. Cruz, adding that Toyota’s investment in advanced manufacturing and automation would allow the company to expand production and create new opportunities for workers while strengthening U.S. exports.
“They’ve got such a strong automated advanced manufacturing footprint here that they can build on it and expand and actually export to the rest of the world,” Lutnick said
This visit comes almost a month after Toyota announced a $3.6 billion expansion to double the size of its campus to include a local vehicle assembly line. Construction is set to be completed by 2030, according to the company.
“They’re going to move those 150,000 trucks from Mexico to America and hire Americans, thousands of Americans, trained Americans and build those trucks right here,” Lutnick said.
Secretary Sonderling said this expansion will also welcome new jobs for Texans, which the company has already begun recruiting for.
“Toyota is partnering with the Workforce Development Board. They’re partnering with community colleges. They’re going into middle schools, they are going into the high schools, they’re talking about all the opportunity here,” Sonderling said.
