Toyota to Export US-Made Vehicles to Russia and Ukraine via Port of Brunswick

Toyota's Venza.

Toyota will begin exporting U.S.-assembled Venza vehicles to Russia and Ukraine in 2013.

Once production begins in April, the Japanese automaker expects to export about 5,000 Venza vehicles to Russia and Ukraine during the first year of sales. The vehicles will be built at the company’s Georgetown, Ky., plant, representing a $6 billion investment. The Venza exports to Russia and Ukraine will ship from Brunswick, Ga.

“We expect the export of Venza vehicles to Russia and Ukraine will help further solidify our U.S. manufacturing base,” said Shigeki Terashi, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor North America, in a written statement.

Toyota is a new client, the Georgia Ports Authority said in welcoming the automaker’s announcement. Colonel’s Island Terminal at the Port of Brunswick handled a record 612,489 auto and machinery units in 2012, up from 497,404 in the previous year.