Toyota Motor North America announced May 20 that a new executive will be heading its Huntsville engine plant.
David Finch, a 28-year veteran of the company, has been promoted to president at TMNA’s engine factory in Huntsville, effective July 1. Finch first joined Toyota at its South Africa Motors facility. As it happens, the man he’s replacing in Huntsville, David Fernandes, is heading to South Africa where he will become senior vice president of manufacturing at Toyota South Africa Motors.
Finch has held many leadership roles at Toyota including positions in quality assurance, assembly and manufacturing, the company said in a press release. “This
past March he joined Toyota Alabama (TMMAL) as vice president, administration, manufacturing and manufacturing support,” the release said.
Fernandes, who lead the Huntsville operation for about 3 years, saw the plant launch a new engine line and produce nearly 2 million engines. In March, TMMAL announced its fifth 
expansion, a $288 million investment and 450 new jobs, increasing
the plant’s total investment to $1.2 billion with an expected 1,800 team members by 2021.
TMNA has 15 manufacturing plants in North America, including the joint venture Mazda Toyota plant being built in Huntsville, with 10 plants located in the U.S. More than 36,000 people work directly for Toyota in the U.S.
