Contractors for Southeast Toyota Distributors, the world’s largest independent distributor of Toyotas, are making significant progress on a new 340,000-square-foot auto processing facility at JAXPORT’s Blount Island Marine Terminal. J.E. Dunn Construction has completed the foundations and is now beginning construction of the concrete walls in preparation for the installation of structural steel framing in late July.
Planned for completion in summer 2025, the $145 million public-private partnership modernizes operations by incorporating additional on-site rail connections and truck loading areas. The project is funded by Southeast Toyota Distributors and a $19.78 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
“We are excited to continue our long-term commitment to growth in Jacksonville, a city that has always been at the heart of our operations,” said Eric Carter, group vice president of operations, Southeast Toyota Distributors. “We are in the midst of the largest investment in our history. With Toyota’s continued development and success within our five-state footprint, this new facility will expand our vehicle processing capacity while increasing our agility and capacity to receive vehicles by both rail and sea.”
“We are proud of the partnership we have built with Southeast Toyota Distributors over the past five decades and grateful for their commitment to bringing this world-class facility to Jacksonville,” said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green. “This public-private partnership, supported by our partners at FDOT, provides quality jobs for our community while enhancing our position as the global gateway for Toyotas bound for the growing Southeast U.S. market.”
Upon completion, Southeast Toyota Distributors will relocate from its 50-acre facility at JAXPORT’s Talleyrand Marine Terminal and an adjacent 23-acre private facility into a single 88-acre property at Blount Island. This consolidation aims to create operational efficiencies and additional space to accommodate more vehicles.
To further enhance capabilities at Blount Island, JAXPORT, in partnership with FDOT, has two berth enhancement projects underway: one berth is being expanded to accommodate two vehicles instead of one; another is being widened to accommodate larger ships more efficiently.
Southeast Toyota Distributors has operated at JAXPORT for more than 50 years and processes Toyota vehicles manufactured in North America and Japan for distribution across the Southeast U.S. In 2023 alone, it moved over 120,000 vehicles through JAXPORT. The company’s Jacksonville operations support more than 800 jobs including processing, parts distribution, technical support, and training.