Plano-based Toyota Motor North America has announced executive changes that it said are designed to drive continued growth, advance its commitment to vehicle electrification, and prepare for the future of mobility.
Kevin Voelkel has been promoted to senior vice president, vehicle plants. He will be responsible for overseeing North American vehicle production at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Baja California (Toyota Motor Manufacturing Baja California), Canada (Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada), Guanajuato (Toyota Motor Manufacturing Guanajuato), Indiana (Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana), Mississippi (Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi), and Texas (Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas).
Voelkel will retain responsibility for all North American Truck Manufacturing as well as oversight of TABC. He will report to Takefumi Shiga, executive vice president, production engineering and manufacturing. Most recently, Voelkel was plant president, TMMTX and group vice president, North American Truck Manufacturing.
Toyota said that Susann Kazunas is promoted to plant president, TMMTX. She will report to Voelkel. Most recently, Kazunas was VP, manufacturing, TMMTX.
The company said that Brian Krinock, senior vice president, vehicle plants, is retiring effective March 31. In that role, Krinock has overseen engineering and manufacturing for Toyota’s seven vehicle assembly plants in North America. Since 1991, he played a critical role in securing the technology and resources needed to ensure plants were competitive, class-leading, and able to meet the rapidly changing demands of customers and the market.
Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at the company’s 13 manufacturing plants.
By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin manufacturing automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
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