The Toyota RAV4 is a crossover between the Toyota Tacoma and the Toyota 4Runner.
This spacious family vehicle offers a large cabin, plenty of space for luggage, smooth, intuitive handling, and brilliant fuel economy, but where are the RAV4 made?
Today we’re going to take a look at where this popular family vehicle is manufactured.
Where Are Toyota RAV4 Models Produced?
When the Toyota RAV4 was first introduced, the first generation made between 1994 and 2000 was exclusively manufactured in China at the Zhuhai and Guangdong plants in China and the Motomachi and Tahara Toyota factories in Japan.
The second generation (2001-2005) was exclusively Japan-built; only the Toyota Factories at the Nakagusa and Tahara plants made it.
It was only by the third generation that the car was introduced at the Ontario assembly plant in Woodstock.
For the third generation, between 2005 and 2012, Toyota resumed using the Changchun factory in China.
Between 2013 and 2018, during the vehicle’s fourth generation, factories were used in China, Japan, Canada, and Russia in St Petersburg.
The vehicles made in Japan were made at the Takaoka and Nakagusa plants.
Where Are Toyota RAV4s Produced for the US Market?
For the four previous generations, the Toyota RAV4 was only produced in Toyota manufacturing plants in the above countries, but when the 5th generation began, Toyota started using the Georgetown factory in the US.
This was the most recent addition to the list of countries that manufacture this vehicle.
The vehicles produced at Toyota’s Woodstock factory for the Canadian market are also likely to be sold in the USA.
Are Toyota RAV4s assembled in the US?
The US is one of the only five countries that has a factory responsible for producing this car.
This is the Georgetown plant in Kentucky.
How Do You Find Out Where a Specific RAV4 Was Produced?
Tracing a vehicle’s origin is easy by using its unique VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).
This is a set of 17 numbers that indicate basic information about your vehicle.
You can find the VIN either on the driver’s side dashboard or the driver’s door frame or pillar.
Each digit indicates a different piece of information; the first one refers to where your car was made.
If the first digit is a letter, this indicates it came from outside of America, but if it’s a number, this means it was produced by a plant on the American continent.
As this car has only ever been made in 5 countries, there are only 5 digits you will see at the start of your VIN:
- L stands for China
- J stands for Japan
- Any combination of X0-X3 indicates Russia
- 2 refers to Canada
- 4 or 5 refers to the United States of America.
Japanese or European Built Toyota RAV4 – Which is Better?
Neither Toyota models made in Japan nor Europe are superior; both are made to the same excellent standard using the same Toyota parts.
In 2010, the Japanese RAV4 received the award for the best car in Japan. While the Russian RAV4 hasn’t received any accolades, it’s made in a factory where other vehicles have received awards, so there is evidently a similarly high level of quality.
Where is the Toyota RAV4 Designed?
Every generation of RAV4 has been designed in Japan by Japanese designers.
Where is the Toyota RAV4 Produced for the Australian Market?
The RAV4s in Australia’s car market are all made by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada at the Woodstock Factory, Ontario.
Where is the Toyota RAV4 produced for the Canadian Market?
The entire Canadian fleet of RAV4s is sourced from the vehicle Toyota builds locally in Canada at the Woodstock plant in Ontario.
Where is the Toyota RAV4 Produced for the UK Market?
UK RAV4s, and those for the rest of Europe, are supplied by the Toyota factory in St Petersburg in Russia.
Is Toyota Planning to Move Its Toyota RAV4 Production?
As of 2022, Toyota is not currently suspending production of the RAV4.
Even in past instances, they have never moved production from one factory to another but instead expanded production to other countries.
FAQs
When was the Toyota RAV4 released in the US?
Surprisingly, the RAV4 has been on the market for more than 20 years.
It was initially introduced to Japanese markets in 1994, arrived in the US and Canada one year later in 1995, and launched in 1996.
What is the price of a Toyota RAV4 in the USA?
In the US, the RAV4 retails for a little above average for a compact SUV at around $26,525 in 2022.
It costs $28,090 in Canada.
Is the Toyota RAV4 the best-selling SUV in the USA?
The RAV4 has consistently proven itself as the most popular SUV and recreational active vehicle in the USA time and again.
Toyota has introduced a range of more compact or luxurious models, such as the Toyota Vanguard, to build on the features of this convenient and popular model.
Final Thoughts
Toyota’s RAV4 has been top of the charts for family SUVs for nearly a quarter of a century, providing simple luxury and convenience.
This is all backed up by excellent Japanese engineering, regardless of where they are produced.