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Toyota Moves Tacoma Production to Texas With $3.6 Billion Investment

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Toyota has announced a $3.6 billion investment to expand its Texas manufacturing facility, bringing Toyota Tacoma production to the United States while creating thousands of new jobs and increasing production capacity.

Toyota is making one of its biggest manufacturing investments in North America. The automaker confirmed it will invest $3.6 billion to expand its San Antonio, Texas, facility, where the Toyota Tacoma will soon be built alongside the Toyota Tundra and Toyota Sequoia.

The project will nearly double the size of the factory, strengthen Toyota’s U.S. manufacturing footprint and support growing demand for America’s best-selling midsize pickup truck.

Toyota Tacoma production moves to Texas

The new investment will expand Toyota’s San Antonio plant to approximately 5 million square feet while adding a second production line dedicated to the Toyota Tacoma.

Production of the midsize pickup will gradually shift from Mexico to Texas over the next four years, although some Tacoma manufacturing will continue south of the border.

Toyota also announced the expansion will create approximately 2,000 new jobs, increasing the facility’s workforce to nearly 6,000 employees.

According to Toyota North America President and CEO Ted Ogawa, the investment reflects the company’s long-term commitment to U.S. manufacturing while supporting future customer demand.

Toyota will expand its Texas plant to build the Tacoma alongside the Tundra and Sequoia.

The Texas plant becomes even more important

Once the expansion is completed, the San Antonio facility will manufacture three of Toyota’s most important trucks and SUVs.

The Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia all ride on Toyota’s TNGA-F body-on-frame platform, allowing the company to improve manufacturing efficiency while sharing components across multiple models.

The facility already produces rear axles for these vehicles, making it one of Toyota’s most strategic manufacturing hubs in North America.

The announcement follows several recent investments across Toyota’s U.S. operations, including manufacturing facilities in Kentucky, West Virginia and Arizona.

The expanded Texas facility will become one of Toyota’s largest manufacturing operations in the U.S.

Toyota Tacoma sales continue to grow

Toyota’s decision comes as Tacoma sales continue to reach record levels in the United States.

During June 2026, Toyota sold 23,158 Tacoma pickups, an increase of 3.4% compared with the previous year.

Year-to-date sales have climbed to 143,848 units, representing a 9.9% increase over 2025 and putting the midsize truck on pace for its best sales year ever.

The 2026 Tacoma lineup starts at $34,190 for the SR XtraCab and reaches $66,395 for the high-performance TRD Pro.

Strong Tacoma demand helped drive Toyota’s decision to expand U.S. production.

Toyota’s $3.6 billion investment reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to American manufacturing while responding to growing demand for its most popular trucks. Expanding Toyota Tacoma production in Texas will not only create thousands of jobs but also strengthen the automaker’s ability to supply one of the country’s best-selling midsize pickups.

With Tacoma sales continuing to rise and production capacity increasing, Toyota is positioning itself to meet future demand while expanding its manufacturing presence in the United States.

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Slate Electric Truck Launches at $26,400 With 205-Mile Range

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Slate has confirmed pricing, improved driving range and new details for its affordable electric pickup ahead of deliveries.

Slate has officially confirmed pricing and new specifications for its highly anticipated electric pickup. Starting at just $26,400 including destination, the Slate electric truck will become one of the most affordable new EVs in the United States when deliveries begin later this year.

The startup also revealed improvements in driving range, payload capacity and charging performance ahead of production.

The Slate electric truck starts at $26,400, making it one of the most affordable EV pickups in the U.S.

Affordable price with extensive customization

The entry-level Blank Slate pickup starts at $26,400, including a $1,450 destination fee.

Customers can also choose two SUV variants:

  • Blank Slate Pickup: $26,400
  • Squareback SUV: $31,400
  • Fastback SUV: $33,400

Slate will sell vehicles directly to customers, with every truck leaving the factory in the same gray finish before receiving one of 100 available vinyl wraps. Around 40 wrap colors cost just $499, while nearly all accessories can be installed later by owners.

Buyers can personalize the Slate with dozens of wraps and accessories after purchase.

More range and better utility

One of the biggest improvements is the adoption of a new 63-kWh LFP battery, increasing estimated driving range from 150 miles to 205 miles.

The rear-wheel-drive electric motor produces 181 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, allowing the truck to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.0 seconds before reaching a top speed of 90 mph.

Charging is handled through a Tesla-compatible NACS connector, supporting DC fast charging up to 120 kW and an 11-kW onboard AC charger capable of fully recharging the battery in about four hours with Level 2 equipment.

Payload capacity has also increased to 1,550 pounds, while towing capacity now reaches 2,000 pounds. Thanks to its electric architecture, the truck also offers a 7-cubic-foot front trunk in addition to its five-foot cargo bed.

The Slate electric truck now offers up to 205 miles of range with its new LFP battery.

Slate says it has already received approximately 180,000 reservations and expects to begin customer deliveries during the fourth quarter of 2026. The company aims to ramp production to 150,000 vehicles annually by late next year, positioning the Slate as one of the most affordable and customizable electric pickups available in the U.S. market.

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Slate Electric Truck Can Cost Nearly $48,000 Fully Loaded

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The affordable Slate electric truck starts at $26,400, but adding accessories can nearly double its final price.

The Slate electric truck has attracted attention with its low starting price, but buyers who customize it heavily could end up paying almost twice as much. After revealing its $1,450 destination fee, the startup’s online configurator shows how quickly the cost can climb with optional accessories.

While the base pickup remains one of the most affordable EVs on the market, personalization comes at a premium.

The Slate electric truck starts at $26,400 before adding optional accessories.

Three body styles and hundreds of customization options

Slate offers the truck in three different configurations:

  • Blank Slate Pickup: $26,400
  • Squareback SUV: $31,400
  • Fastback SUV: $33,400

Customers can personalize nearly every aspect of the vehicle, including custom vinyl wraps, decals, auxiliary lighting, roof racks, grille designs, wider fender flares and 20-inch wheels.

A custom exterior wrap alone adds $1,599.99, while premium wheels increase the price by another $1,399.99.

Buyers can choose from dozens of exterior accessories and custom appearance packages.

Interior upgrades quickly increase the price

The cabin follows the same philosophy, allowing buyers to add features that are absent from the standard truck.

Optional equipment includes a center console, upgraded speakers, storage systems, floor mats, colored interior trim and a dashboard-mounted tablet that serves as the infotainment display.

After selecting nearly every available option on the Fastback SUV, the total reached $47,744.39, and that figure could climb even higher since some accessories still don’t have official pricing.

A fully equipped Slate Fastback SUV can approach $48,000 with optional upgrades.

The Slate electric truck remains one of the most affordable new EVs in the United States, but its highly customizable approach means buyers can easily transform a budget-friendly pickup into a much more expensive vehicle. For customers looking to maximize value, choosing accessories carefully will be key to keeping the final price under control.

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Ford Faces Lawsuit Over $1.3 Billion Tariff Refund

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A Ford Mustang Mach-E owner claims the automaker should return tariff-related price increases after receiving a federal refund.

Ford is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit after a California customer argued that the automaker should return tariff-related price increases to buyers. The lawsuit comes after the federal government agreed to refund import duties previously collected under tariffs that were later ruled unlawful.

The case centers on the Ford Mustang Mach-E, which is manufactured in Mexico and was affected by higher import costs.

A Ford Mustang Mach-E owner is seeking a refund through a proposed class-action lawsuit.

Customer says Ford should share tariff refund

The lawsuit was filed on July 9 by California resident Jason Bullock, who claims Ford increased prices and destination charges to offset import tariffs on Mexican-built vehicles.

After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs exceeded presidential authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the federal government agreed to refund affected import duties.

Ford has previously estimated it could recover approximately $1.3 billion through those refunds.

The lawsuit argues Ford should return tariff-related costs to affected customers.

The legal battle could affect other major companies

According to the complaint, Ford would receive an unfair financial benefit if it keeps both the government refund and the higher prices previously paid by customers.

The lawsuit argues that buyers who absorbed those additional costs deserve compensation now that the tariffs are being refunded.

Ford is not the only company facing this type of legal challenge. Similar lawsuits have also been filed against Nike, Amazon and Costco, meaning the first case to reach a final ruling could establish an important legal precedent for future consumer claims.

The outcome of the Ford lawsuit could influence similar cases against other major U.S. companies.

Although the case is still in its early stages, it raises important questions about how companies should handle government tariff refunds when previous import costs were passed directly to consumers. The outcome could have broader implications for both automakers and retailers operating in the U.S. market.

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