Tahara, Japan Built 4Runners - How Much Does it Matter?

[risurfstyle]

Curious how everyone feels about the fact that the 4Runner is built in Japan at the iconic Tahara plant. My SR5 feels really solid and build quality is very good, but I'm wondering what others think, how much it factors into a decision to purchase (or not) a 2025 4Runner. It definitely made a difference to me as I was considering the various 2025-2026 options currently on the market.

 

[Burgi]

Its definitely a nice touch but I don't think it matters much whether you get a Japanese or Mexican built toyota. The same toyota processes are going to be implemented across all plants and that's what makes Toyota Toyota

 

[CrispyTacoLover]

My 2016 and 2024 4Runners were/are rock solid. It matters a lot to me. Hoping for the same with the 2025+ runners.

 

[Nodak]

technically japan will be qc'd better than other plants outside japan. the driving factor will be that japan as a whole take craftmanship and pride more seriously than other parts of the world.

also another minor factor is that now toyota went to an esop plan for employee's which in turn makes it a vested interest that employee's care about the company more since they are now have a vested interest in how the company does.

i know how that works in a way since my wife works at an esop company and her shares (ie retirement) is tied to how they perform. i know employee's are more perceptive to public perception so they tend to be more friendly to customers.

also internally the company handles finances in a different way.

one thing i found weird but cool is thatnew stores are paid for internally from within the company own bank so to speak. the new store takes a loan to build a new store, that store in return has to pay the bank/loan back

 

[risurfstyle]

Its definitely a nice touch but I don't think it matters much whether you get a Japanese or Mexican built toyota. The same toyota processes are going to be implemented across all plants and that's what makes Toyota Toyota

I think you're right the process is the same, but having a process in place is not the same as executing day to day on that process by a group of humans. Also materials/components can vary based on local production and available raw materials.

 

[toyomoLC]

It makes a very big difference building at Tahara. Remember that Toyota purposely recruited its best, long term workers to build Lexus at the Tahara plant. That level of experience and heritage of personal responsibility to pursue perfection is irreplaceable and takes decades to achieve. Japanese culture enables this approach in a way that many other national cultures don’t, at least to the same extent.

Although TPS/Lean processes are implemented at Toyota (and other automakers) plants around the world, the experience and commitment to TPS by old line (30-40 years with Toyota) Japanese assemblers at Tahara, makes a huge difference.

When you buy a 4Runner manufactured there, you’re buying Lexus design and simplified manufacturing approaches, in a proven platform, at Toyota prices (as high as those are today, ouch!!). Materials used, both in type and quality, largely determine the outcome. This is a legacy carryover of older heritage philosophy. Machinery setup, achieved through kaizen, is the result of collaboration between assembly, leadership and quality improvement teams working together while guided by small improvements over time, resulting in huge cummulative improved aoutcomes.

Also note that the old line design and manufacturing methodology used at Tahara for the 4Rs was perfected through kaizen, year after year, with less emphasis on cost cutting and the “relentless pursuit of perfection” emblematic of traditional old Toyota philosophy, now less emphasized in the 6th Gen. Still excellent, with new materials, but a design shift in how the end product is achieved.

Just my own interpretation based on long term TPS/Lean production methodology in other industries.