Lifetime Of Achievement: Toyota’s Janette Hostettler
Janette Hostettler has always said in interviews that she lives by the words of Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky – you’ll lose 100% of the shots you don’t take. There are few shots she doesn’t take these days, as Vice President of Manufacturing at Toyota Kentucky & Group Vice President of Toyota Motor North America.
Responsible for managing vehicle manufacturing and production at Toyota’s largest global manufacturing facility, Janette joined the company in 2000 as a quality engineering specialist. She went on to hold leadership roles throughout the manufacturing process – in pilot production, quality and plant engineering, plastics and paint.
In 2017 Janette was promoted to general manager, leading final vehicle assembly for Toyota’s Sequoia, Sienna and Highlander models. Prior to her current role, she was Senior Vice President of Manufacturing at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing where she was responsible for the plant’s production system, quality department, and hiring and training for 4,000 team members.
Janette, like many leaders in the sector, goes beyond the manufacturing shop floor. With a
bachelors in Chemistry from Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, promoting education and careers in manufacturing has always been important to her.
She’s a strong advocate, who champions diversity and inclusion activities for women, young professionals and hispanic/ latino communities. Janette serves on the board of nonprofits for the Evansville Diversity Lecture Series, MTM Women Inspiring Women, and Evansville High School Engineering Development Program.
She also models success herself, being inducted into the Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame in 2023.
Janette is also a mother, living with her husband Rob and their three children Samuel, Emma and Noah in Kentucky. A grandmother to twins, she embodies a highly visible example of true work life balance for women.
More than anything, Janette is a talented, established manufacturing leader, serving on the board of The Manufacturing Institute. For more than two decades, Janette has displayed her technical knowledge, manufacturing experience and astute management skills at Toyota North America, receiving promotion after promotion as a result.
“My career at Toyota has been an incredible journey, offering me opportunities I never thought possible,”
“I’m excited about sharing my expertise and empowering other women while leading Toyota Kentucky into the future of automotive manufacturing.”
It’s difficult to understate how critical Janette’s role is to Toyota’s manufacturing process. The Kentucky facility, capable of producing 550,000 vehicles and more than 600,000 engines annually, represents a nearly US$10bn investment.
When it was established in 1986 it broke automotive ground, producing its first Camry- America’s best-selling car- in 1988. The plant is also home to the beloved Lexus ES 350, RAV4 Hybrid; plus, four-cylinder and V6 engines.
The Toyota Kentucky Plant
- Established in 1986
- 433,848 units assembled in 2023
- 9,950 jobs created
More than 14 million vehicles have rolled off the plant's production line since its founding, and it stands as a vital economic driver for Toyota across the US and beyond. Janette plays a critical role in shaping Toyota’s ongoing success and bright future.
Toyota has long established itself as a global leader in innovation, pursuing greater sustainability and efficiency. The Toyota concept of lean manufacturing changed the automotive landscape as we know it, with the company continuing to be recognised for its transformative impact on the sector.
Toyota received 2,667 patents in 2023, more than any other automaker. Toyota was awarded the most Influential Hybrid Car Maker in EcoCar’s Third annual Electrified Top 50 awards and the Toyota Prius won the 2024 North American Car of the Year.
Today, we’re going beyond the brand as someone special at Toyota is commemorated – Janette Hostettler, with our Lifetime Of Achievement.
To read the full story in the magazine please click HERE
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