San Antonio is steering forward at full throttle in the automotive industry, flexing its manufacturing muscles with remarkable gains in vehicle sales and expansion moves from auto giants. The city, once snubbed by automotive bigwigs, is now a powerhouse after Toyota set up shop on the South Side two decades ago, spawning an industry boom that hasn't hit the brakes since.
A staggering sales surge from January to March this year saw the San Antonio-produced Sequoia SUV and Tundra pickup truck models record sales hikes of 35.9% and 31% respectively compared to last year, a triumph trumpeted by the San Antonio Manufacturers Association (SAMA). But while wallets might be getting fatter, this boom hasn't trickled down to job hunters just yet, "Right now, there are currently no plans for hiring changes," a Toyota statement obtained by FOX San Antonio confirmed, despite the sector's acceleration.
Not just riding the wave but cresting it, the city's pursuit of industry diversification is paying off, Navistar International and heavyweight auto suppliers have joined Toyota in planting their flags - Navistar's recent reveal of a cutting-edge truck factory and the likes of ElringKlinger AG and Saueressig setting up to serve Tesla’s nearby Gigafactory shine as evidence.
But it's not just about manufacturing trucks or stacking supply shelves, San Antonio is shifting gears towards innovation with automotive R&D taking the field, this transformation has been marked by the reinvigorating DeLorean Motor Co. which plans to employ a slew of engineers that, betoken the city's leap towards high-skill, high-paying jobs in green transportation, DeLorean's San Antonio employees are looking at an average salary of about $140,000 as reported by Express-News. "The long-term play is to get more of the value-added work. So when you see Navistar coming here, they didn't just bring a truck factory, they brought their engineering plant," said David Marquez, director of community and economic development for Bexar County, speaking to local drivers of industry evolution.
Indeed, the seeds sown nearly 20 years ago, when local and state officials hustled to hook Toyota with over $100 million in subsidies have germinated into an industrial garden of opportunity - an economic shift that placed San Antonio on the global automotive map, proving the city's mettle and turning former rejections into current endorsements.
