Toyota Tacoma trucks are made entirely in Mexico, assembled at two Toyota facilities in Baja California and Guanajuato since production fully shifted south of the border in 2021.
The Tacoma is known as the best-selling midsize pickup truck in the United States by a wide margin, with a loyal following among outdoor enthusiasts, off-road drivers, and buyers who value long-term reliability above all else.
The Tacoma is produced by Toyota Motor Corporation, the Japanese automaker headquartered in Toyota City, Japan. The Tacoma has been the best-selling midsize pickup in the US for over 20 consecutive years, a record no other truck in its class has matched.
Knowing where the Toyota Tacoma is made helps buyers understand the manufacturing origins of this truck and why it moved out of US production despite its dominant position in the American market.
This article covers where Tacomas are made today, the history of Tacoma production in the US, the current generation details, and how the Tacoma compares to Ford Ranger and Chevy Colorado.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Where Are Toyota Tacomas Made Today?
Since 2021, all Toyota Tacomas sold in North America have been assembled exclusively in Mexico. Toyota operates two Mexican plants dedicated to Tacoma production.
The Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California plant in Tijuana, Mexico is one of the two primary Tacoma facilities.
The second is the Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Guanajuato plant, located in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato.
Both plants operate under Toyota’s global quality management standards, applying the same manufacturing processes and inspection procedures used at Toyota facilities worldwide.
Was the Tacoma Ever Made in the USA?
Yes. For many years, a significant portion of Tacoma production took place at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas (TMMTX) in San Antonio.
That plant began assembling Tacomas in 2010 after production was relocated from the NUMMI joint venture plant in Fremont, California.
Between 2010 and 2021, Tacomas were built at both San Antonio and the Baja California plant in Tijuana.
Toyota then consolidated all Tacoma production into Mexico, and the San Antonio plant transitioned fully to producing the Tundra full-size pickup and Sequoia SUV.
The decision was part of a broader North American manufacturing reorganization and did not result in US job losses, as the Texas workforce shifted to Tundra and Sequoia production.
What Is the Connection Between San Antonio and the Tacoma Today?
Although the Tacoma is no longer assembled in San Antonio, Toyota opened a new rear axle plant in San Antonio in 2026 that supplies components to the Mexican Tacoma plants.
The new axle facility manufactures 18 variations of rear axles, shipping approximately 60% of its annual output to Tacoma production lines in Mexico while the remaining 40% goes to Tundra and Sequoia assembly on the same campus.
This means the San Antonio area remains part of the Tacoma’s supply chain, even though the final assembly of the truck no longer takes place there.
What Generation Is the Current Tacoma?
The fourth-generation Toyota Tacoma launched for the 2024 model year, representing the most comprehensive redesign of the truck since the third generation debuted in 2015.
The fourth gen introduced a new turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine as the standard powertrain. A new i-Force Max hybrid system was offered for the first time, combining the turbocharged engine with an electric motor for improved torque and towing capability.
The fourth-generation Tacoma is assembled at the same two Mexican plants as the outgoing third-generation model, with production continuing in Tijuana and Guanajuato. Full specifications are on the Toyota Tacoma official page.
Toyota Tacoma vs Ford Ranger vs Chevy Colorado: Who Makes Each?
All three are midsize pickup trucks from different American or Japanese manufacturers. The Tacoma is made by Toyota. The Ranger is made by Ford Motor Company.
The Colorado is made by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand.
All three are assembled in North America, but not in the US. The Tacoma is made in Mexico. The new Ford Ranger is assembled in Michigan (Michigan Assembly Plant).
The Chevy Colorado is assembled in Wentzville, Missouri, making it the only one of the three currently built on US soil.
The Tacoma outsells the Ranger and Colorado combined in most years, a dominance built on its reputation for reliability, strong resale value, and a loyal buyer base that upgrades within the Tacoma lineup repeatedly.
Does the Tacoma’s Mexico Production Affect Quality?
Toyota applies the same Toyota Production System standards at all of its manufacturing facilities, regardless of country.
The Baja California and Guanajuato plants operate under the same quality protocols as Toyota’s US and Japanese plants.
Consumer Reports and J.D. Power reliability surveys have consistently ranked the Tacoma as one of the most reliable vehicles in the midsize truck segment, both before and after production moved entirely to Mexico.
The Tacoma’s residual values remain among the highest in the entire truck segment, reflecting buyer confidence in the truck’s long-term durability regardless of where it is assembled.
Frequently Asked Questions About Where Toyota Tacomas Are Made
Is the Toyota Tacoma still made in the USA?
No. Since 2021, all Toyota Tacomas have been assembled in Mexico at plants in Tijuana (Baja California) and Guanajuato. The San Antonio, Texas plant previously built Tacomas until 2020 but now produces the Tundra and Sequoia.
Where is the 2025 Toyota Tacoma made?
The 2025 Toyota Tacoma is assembled at Toyota’s manufacturing plants in Baja California (Tijuana) and Guanajuato, Mexico. It is part of the fourth-generation Tacoma launched for the 2024 model year.
Why did Toyota stop making Tacomas in the USA?
Toyota shifted Tacoma production to Mexico as part of a broader North American manufacturing reorganization. The San Antonio plant transitioned to Tundra and Sequoia production, which Toyota wanted to prioritize at that facility. The move did not eliminate US jobs as the workforce shifted to the new models.
What engine does the 2025 Toyota Tacoma have?
The 2025 Toyota Tacoma uses a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine as the standard powertrain. An i-Force Max hybrid option combines that engine with an electric motor for additional torque and improved towing performance, which is a new addition for the fourth-generation Tacoma.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.