Toyota Motor North America announced Erik Skaggs has been promoted to president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi (TMMMS) effective October 23.
Skaggs joined Toyota in 1993 as an engineer at its Georgetown, Kentucky site where he held leadership roles in quality control, body operations and production before becoming a general manager in 2015. In 2020, Skaggs transitioned to Toyota Mississippi as the vice president of manufacturing and most recently served as vice president of administration.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead and continue to develop Toyota Mississippi,” Skaggs said. “I’ve seen first-hand the commitment and dedication our workforce and community have to offer, and I’m looking forward to future opportunities for growth and development as a company and as a community partner.”
Current president, David Fernandes, will transition to his new role as senior vice president of manufacturing at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing in Huntsville, Alabama, after three years of strong leadership in Mississippi.
“It’s been a privilege to be a part of the continued development of this plant alongside such hardworking, dedicated employees who are passionately focused on the safety and quality of our vehicles,” said Fernandes, Toyota Mississippi president. “Northeast Mississippi is known for inspiring others throughout the state with many initiatives centering on education, community development and workforce. And, I’m proud to have played a role in that during my time at Toyota Mississippi.”
Under Fernandes’ leadership, the plant opened a new 15,000-square-foot, interactive experience center and produced more than 500,000 Corolla’s, the world’s best-selling vehicle.
Toyota Mississippi represents a $1.2 billion total investment with approximately 2,400 employees.